Ezra 6:22
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ
And kept
H6213
וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ
And kept
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
1 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
מַצּ֛וֹת
of unleavened bread
H4682
מַצּ֛וֹת
of unleavened bread
Strong's:
H4682
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, sweetness; concretely, sweet (i.e., not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically, an unfermented cake or loaf, or (elliptically) the fes
שִׁבְעַ֥ת
seven
H7651
שִׁבְעַ֥ת
seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
4 of 21
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
יָמִ֖ים
days
H3117
יָמִ֖ים
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 21
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה
with joy
H8057
בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה
with joy
Strong's:
H8057
Word #:
6 of 21
blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)
כִּ֣י׀
H3588
כִּ֣י׀
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
7 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שִׂמְּחָ֣ם
had made them joyful
H8055
שִׂמְּחָ֣ם
had made them joyful
Strong's:
H8055
Word #:
8 of 21
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
יְהוָ֗ה
for the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְֽהֵסֵ֞ב
and turned
H5437
וְֽהֵסֵ֞ב
and turned
Strong's:
H5437
Word #:
10 of 21
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
לֵ֤ב
the heart
H3820
לֵ֤ב
the heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
11 of 21
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
אַשּׁוּר֙
of Assyria
H804
אַשּׁוּר֙
of Assyria
Strong's:
H804
Word #:
13 of 21
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְחַזֵּ֣ק
unto them to strengthen
H2388
לְחַזֵּ֣ק
unto them to strengthen
Strong's:
H2388
Word #:
15 of 21
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra
יְדֵיהֶ֔ם
their hands
H3027
יְדֵיהֶ֔ם
their hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
16 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת
in the work
H4399
בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת
in the work
Strong's:
H4399
Word #:
17 of 21
properly, deputyship, i.e., ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
בֵּית
of the house
H1004
בֵּית
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
18 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֱלֹהֵ֥י
of God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֥י
of God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
19 of 21
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Proverbs 21:1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.2 Chronicles 30:21And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.Ezra 1:1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,Proverbs 16:7When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.2 Chronicles 35:17And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.Ezra 7:27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:John 19:11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.Matthew 26:17Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?2 Kings 23:29In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.2 Chronicles 33:11Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
Historical Context
The temple dedication occurred in 515 BC, seventy years after its destruction (586 BC), fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10). Persian King Darius I had not only permitted the work to continue (6:1-12) but funded it from royal treasury and threatened severe punishment for any who hindered it (6:8-11). This astonishing imperial support vindicated the prophets Haggai and Zechariah who urged the discouraged returnees to resume building (Ezra 5:1-2).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's sovereign control over pagan rulers (Darius) encourage believers facing hostile political environments?
- What does the transformation from weeping (3:12-13) to joy (6:22) teach about God's faithfulness through discouragement to completion?
- In what ways should completed gospel work result in communal celebration similar to Israel's feast observance?
Analysis & Commentary
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy—חַג הַמַּצּוֹת (chag hamatzot, feast of unleavened bread) commemorates the Exodus deliverance (Exodus 12:15-20). The שִׂמְחָה (simchah, joy) marks a profound emotional shift from the weeping at the temple foundation (3:12-13) to exuberant celebration at its completion. This seven-day observance following Passover signified the community's full restoration to covenant worship patterns established in the Mosaic law.
For the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them—the phrase 'king of Assyria' referring to the Persian king Darius is historically jarring (Assyria had fallen in 609 BC), but reflects either popular usage for any Mesopotamian monarch or theological irony: the empire that once destroyed Israel now funds its restoration. The הֵסֵב (hesev, turned) is divine causation—God sovereignly influences pagan rulers to accomplish His covenant purposes, echoing Proverbs 21:1. To strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God—חִזֵּק (chizzeq, strengthen) appears throughout Ezra-Nehemiah for divine and human encouragement in temple-building (Ezra 1:6, 6:22, Nehemiah 2:18, 6:9).