Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away. New Living Translation The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance. English Standard Version so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away. Berean Standard Bible The 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. King James Bible So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. New King James Version so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off. New American Standard Bible so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, because the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. NASB 1995 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. NASB 1977 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. Legacy Standard Bible so that the people could not distinguish the voices of the shouting of gladness from the voices of the weeping of the people, for the people were shouting with a loud shout, and those voices were heard far away. Amplified Bible so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. Christian Standard Bible The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away. Holman Christian Standard Bible The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away. American Standard Version so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. Contemporary English Version Their shouting and crying were so noisy that it all sounded alike and could be heard a long way off. English Revised Version so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. GOD'S WORD® Translation No one could distinguish between the joyful shouts and the loud sobbing because the people were shouting so loudly. The noise was heard from far away. Good News Translation No one could distinguish between the joyful shouts and the crying, because the noise they made was so loud that it could be heard for miles. International Standard Version As a result, the people couldn't distinguish between the noise coming from the shouts of joy and the noise coming from the weeping people, because everyone was shouting loudly and could be heard a long way off. Majority Standard Bible The 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. NET Bible People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people's weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly that the sound was heard a long way off. New Heart English Bible so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away. Webster's Bible Translation So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of the joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. World English Bible so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the people are not discerning the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people are shouting [with] a great shout, and the noise has been heard to a distance. Young's Literal Translation and the people are not discerning the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people are shouting -- a great shout -- and the noise hath been heard unto a distance. Smith's Literal Translation And the people not recognizing the voice of the shout of gladness from the voice of the weeping of the people; for the people shouting a great shout, and the voice was heard even to far off. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo that one could not distinguish the voice of the shout of joy, from the noise of the weeping of the people: for one with another the people shouted with a loud shout, and the voice was heard afar off. Catholic Public Domain Version Neither could anyone distinguish between the voice of clamor of joy, and a voice of weeping of the people. For the shouting of the people mixed into a great clamor, and the voice was heard from far away. New American Bible No one could distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from the sound of those who were weeping; for the people raised a mighty clamor which was heard far away. New Revised Standard Version so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo that the people could not discern the sound of the trumpets from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people blew trumpets with a loud blast and the noise of weeping was heard afar off. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And there were no people who heard the sound of the horns, because of the sound of the great weeping of the people, because the people were sounding with the horns with a loud voice, and the sound of the weeping was heard for a long distance. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the people did not distinguish the voice of the glad shout from the voice of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the voice was heard even from afar off. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Temple Restoration Begins…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. Cross References 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. 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 8:65-66 So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast before the LORD our God for seven days and seven more days—fourteen days in all. / On the fifteenth day Solomon sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things that the LORD had done for His servant David and for His people Israel. 2 Chronicles 7:10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel. Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” / The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Jeremiah 33:11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD. Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 30:21-23 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD. / And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers. / The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy. 1 Kings 8:11 so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. Matthew 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” Luke 19:37-38 And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: / “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” Acts 2:6 And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language. Treasury of Scripture So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. Ezra 2:1-9 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; … the noise Judges 2:5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD. shouted Nehemiah 12:43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Jeremiah 33:11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. and the noise Exodus 32:17,18 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp… 1 Samuel 4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 1 Kings 1:40,45 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them… Jump to Previous Afar Cries Cry Discern Discerning Distance Distinguish Ears Far Great Heard Joy Joyful Loud Mixed Noise People's Shout Shouted Shouting Shouts Sound WeepingJump to Next Afar Cries Cry Discern Discerning Distance Distinguish Ears Far Great Heard Joy Joyful Loud Mixed Noise People's Shout Shouted Shouting Shouts Sound WeepingEzra 3 1. The altar is set up4. Offerings renewed 7. Workmen employed in preparing materials 8. The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping This phrase captures the emotional complexity of the moment. The Israelites had returned from Babylonian exile and were laying the foundation of the Second Temple. The shouts of joy likely came from the younger generation who had not seen the First Temple and were excited about the new beginning. In contrast, the weeping was from the older generation who remembered the splendor of Solomon's Temple and mourned its loss. This duality reflects the tension between hope for the future and sorrow for the past. The inability to distinguish between joy and weeping symbolizes the mixed emotions of restoration and loss, a theme echoed in Haggai 2:3, where the prophet asks who among them remembers the former glory of the Temple. because the people were making so much noise And the sound was heard from afar Persons / Places / Events 1. The People of IsraelThe Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. They are central to this event, representing a community in transition and renewal. 2. The Temple Foundation The laying of the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a significant event symbolizing the restoration of worship and national identity for the Israelites. 3. Shouts of Joy and Weeping The mixed reactions of the people—some rejoicing at the new beginning, others weeping over the loss of the former temple's glory—highlight the emotional complexity of restoration. 4. Jerusalem The city where the temple is being rebuilt, serving as the spiritual and cultural center for the Jewish people. 5. The Sound Heard from Afar The loud noise made by the people, which signifies the importance and impact of the event beyond the immediate vicinity. Teaching Points The Complexity of RestorationRestoration often involves mixed emotions. Recognize that both joy and sorrow can coexist in times of renewal and change. The Importance of Worship The rebuilding of the temple foundation underscores the centrality of worship in the life of God's people. Prioritize worship in your personal and communal life. Generational Perspectives Different generations may have varied responses to change. Seek to understand and respect these perspectives while moving forward together. The Power of Community The collective noise of the people signifies the strength and impact of community. Engage actively in your faith community to amplify your witness. God's Faithfulness in New Beginnings Despite the past, God is faithful in new beginnings. Trust in His promises and look forward to what He is building in your life.(13) The noise was heard afar off.--The people also mingled in the weeping, which was with shrill cries. The rejoicing and the sorrow were blended, and the common sound was heard from far. All here has the stamp of truth. Verse 13. - The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping. One, it would seem, was as loud as the other; neither predominated. This, which would scarcely be possible among ourselves, was not unnatural in the East, where those who lament utter shrill cries, instead of weeping silently. Herodotus describes the lament of the Persians for a lost general as "resounding throughout all Boeotia" (Ezra 9:24). |
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