Ezra 3:12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

◄ Ezra 3:12 ►

New International Version
But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.

New Living Translation
But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy.

English Standard Version
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,

Berean Standard Bible
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

King James Bible
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

New King James Version
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy,

New American Standard Bible
Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,

NASB 1995
Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,

NASB 1977
Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy;

Legacy Standard Bible
Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house of Yahweh, were weeping with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many in loud shouts with gladness were raising their voice,

Amplified Bible
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house (temple), wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,

Christian Standard Bible
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this house, but many others shouted joyfully.

American Standard Version
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

Contemporary English Version
Many of the older priests and Levites and the heads of families wept bitterly because they remembered seeing the first temple years before. But others were so happy that they celebrated with joyful shouts.

English Revised Version
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But many of the priests, Levites, and the heads of the families who were old enough to have seen the first temple with their own eyes began to sob when they saw the foundation of this temple. Many others shouted for joy.

Good News Translation
Many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of clans had seen the first Temple, and as they watched the foundation of this Temple being laid, they cried and wailed. But the others who were there shouted for joy.

International Standard Version
Now a number of the priests, the Levities, and the leading officials of the elders—who were very elderly—had seen the former Temple with their own eyes. When they observed the foundation of the Temple being laid, they wept with a loud voice, while the rest of them shouted for joy.

Majority Standard Bible
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

NET Bible
Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders--older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established--were weeping loudly, and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout.

New Heart English Bible
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of ancestral houses, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy,

Webster's Bible Translation
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, old men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

World English Bible
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And many of the priests, and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers, the aged men who had seen the first house—in this house being founded before their eyes—are weeping with a loud voice, and many with a shout, in joy, lifting up the voice;

Young's Literal Translation
And many of the priests, and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers, the aged men who had seen the first house -- in this house being founded before their eyes -- are weeping with a loud voice, and many with a shout, in joy, lifting up the voice;

Smith's Literal Translation
And many of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers, old men, who saw the first house in this house being founded before their eyes, weeping with a great voice; and many with a shout in gladness to the lifting up the voice.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But many of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers and the ancients that had seen the former temple; when they had the foundation of this temple before their eyes, wept with a loud voice: and many shouting for joy, lifted up their voice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And many of the priests and the Levites, and the leaders of the fathers and of the elders, who had seen the former temple, when now this temple was founded and was before their eyes, wept with a great voice. And many of them, shouting for joy, lifted up their voice.

New American Bible
Many of the priests, Levites, and heads of ancestral houses, who were old enough to have seen the former house, cried out in sorrow as they watched the foundation of the present house being laid. Many others, however, lifted up their voices in shouts of joy.

New Revised Standard Version
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house, though many shouted aloud for joy,

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But many of the priests and the Levites and the chiefs of the fathers, old men, who had seen the first house in its glory, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many raised their voices with trumpets and with joy,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And many of the Priests and the Levites, Chiefs of the elder fathers, because they saw this house in its first glory when this house was finished, they wept with a loud voice, and there were many who were lifting up their voice with the horns and with joy.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen the first house standing on its foundation, wept with a loud voice, when this house was before their eyes; and many shouted aloud for joy;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But many of the priests and the Levites, and the elder men, heads of families, who had seen the former house on its foundation, and who saw this house with their eyes, wept with a loud voice: but the multitude shouted with joy to raise a song.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Temple Restoration Begins
…11And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid. 12But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully. 13The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Haggai 2:3
‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’

Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

1 Kings 6:7
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

2 Chronicles 3:3-4
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard. / The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

2 Chronicles 36:19
Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.

Jeremiah 52:12-13
On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. / He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.

Lamentations 2:7
The Lord has rejected His altar; He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has delivered the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of the LORD as on the day of an appointed feast.

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Isaiah 64:11
Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins.

Nehemiah 12:43
On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

Matthew 24:1-2
As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. / “Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

Acts 3:24
Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days.

Acts 15:16
‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

Treasury of Scripture

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

many

Haggai 2:3
Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

when the foundation

Job 8:7
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Isaiah 41:14
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 60:22
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

wept

Psalm 126:6
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Jeremiah 31:8,9
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither…

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Ezra 3

1. The altar is set up
4. Offerings renewed
7. Workmen employed in preparing materials
8. The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning

Berean Study Bible

But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads
This phrase highlights the generational divide present during the rebuilding of the temple. The "older priests, Levites, and family heads" were those who had experienced the glory of Solomon's Temple before its destruction. The Hebrew word for "older" (זָקֵן, zaqen) implies not just age but also wisdom and experience. These individuals held positions of authority and spiritual leadership, and their memories of the past temple's grandeur deeply influenced their emotional response. Historically, the role of priests and Levites was central to Israel's worship and religious life, and their presence here underscores the continuity of Israel's spiritual heritage despite the exile.

who had seen the first temple
The "first temple" refers to Solomon's Temple, a magnificent structure that was the center of Jewish worship and national identity. The Hebrew word for "seen" (רָאָה, ra'ah) suggests not just physical sight but also understanding and experience. These individuals had witnessed the temple's splendor and the central role it played in their community. The destruction of the first temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC was a traumatic event, symbolizing not only the loss of a physical structure but also a disruption in their covenant relationship with God. This historical context adds depth to their emotional reaction upon seeing the new foundation.

wept loudly
The act of weeping "loudly" (בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל, beqol gadol) indicates a profound expression of grief and lamentation. In Hebrew culture, public displays of emotion were common, especially in times of mourning or distress. The older generation's tears were likely a mixture of sorrow for what was lost and perhaps disappointment in the new temple's modest beginnings compared to the former glory. This emotional response reflects a deep connection to their past and a longing for the restoration of their former spiritual and national identity.

when they saw the foundation of this temple
The "foundation of this temple" represents the beginning of a new chapter in Israel's history. The Hebrew word for "foundation" (יְסוֹד, yesod) signifies the base or starting point of a structure, symbolizing hope and renewal. However, for those who remembered the first temple, this new foundation may have seemed inadequate or underwhelming. The laying of the foundation was a significant event, marking the return of the exiles and the reestablishment of worship in Jerusalem. It was a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of prophetic promises, yet it also highlighted the challenges of rebuilding and the reality of their current situation.

but many others shouted joyfully
In contrast to the weeping of the older generation, "many others shouted joyfully" (הֵרִיעוּ בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל, heri'u beqol gadol). The Hebrew word for "shouted" (הֵרִיעוּ, heri'u) conveys a loud, triumphant cry, often associated with victory or celebration. This joyful response likely came from the younger generation or those who had been born in exile and had no memory of the first temple. For them, the laying of the foundation was a cause for celebration, a sign of God's favor and the beginning of a new era. This juxtaposition of weeping and rejoicing illustrates the complex emotions involved in the process of restoration and the diverse perspectives within the community. It serves as a reminder of the importance of hope and faith in God's promises, even amidst uncertainty and change.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) But many of the priests and Levites . . . wept with a loud voice.--This most affecting scene requires the comment of Haggai 2 and Zeeh. 4. The first house was destroyed in B.C. 588, fifty years before. The weeping of the ancients was not occasioned by any comparison as to size and grandeur, unless indeed they marked the smallness of their foundation stones. They thought chiefly of the great desolation as measured by the past; the younger peoplc thought of the new future.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - Many... who were ancient men, that had seen the first house. The old temple had not been destroyed so much as fifty years. Consequently, there would be many who could remember its grandeur and glory. These persons, when the foundation of the (new) house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. It was "the day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10). The new house, in comparison with the old one, was "as nothing" (Haggai 2:3). The difference was perhaps not so much in the dimensions (see note on Ezra 6:3) as in the size and quality of the foundation-stones (1 Kings 5:17), the excellence of the masonry, and the like. Solomon had employed the best workmen of one of the greatest of the Tyrian kings; Zerubbabel had only the arms of his own subjects to depend upon.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But many
וְרַבִּ֡ים (wə·rab·bîm)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

of the older
הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים (haz·zə·qê·nîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2205: Old

priests,
מֵהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים (mê·hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

Levites,
וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ (wə·hal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

and family
הָאָב֜וֹת (hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

heads
וְרָאשֵׁ֨י (wə·rā·šê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7218: The head

who
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had seen
רָא֜וּ (rā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

the first
הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ (hā·ri·šō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

temple
הַבַּ֤יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

wept
בֹּכִ֖ים (bō·ḵîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

loudly
בְּק֣וֹל (bə·qō·wl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

when they saw
בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (bə·‘ê·nê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

the foundation
בְּיָסְד֔וֹ (bə·yā·sə·ḏōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3245: To set, to found, to sit down together, settle, consult

of this
זֶ֤ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

temple.
הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

Still, many
וְרַבִּ֛ים (wə·rab·bîm)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

others shouted
בִּתְרוּעָ֥ה (biṯ·rū·‘āh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8643: Clamor, acclamation of joy, a battle-cry, clangor, of trumpets, as an alarum

joyfully.
קֽוֹל׃ (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

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OT History: Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites (Ezr. Ez)