The Meaning of Ezra 3:3 Explained

Ezra 3:3

KJV: And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

YLT: And they establish the altar on its bases, because of the fear upon them of the peoples of the lands, and he causeth burnt-offerings to ascend upon it to Jehovah, burnt-offerings for the morning and for the evening.

Darby: And they set the altar on its base; for fear was upon them because of the people of the countries; and they offered up burnt-offerings on it to Jehovah, the morning and evening burnt-offerings.

ASV: And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they set  the altar  upon his bases;  for fear  [was] upon them because of the people  of those countries:  and they offered  burnt offerings  thereon unto the LORD,  [even] burnt offerings  morning  and evening. 

What does Ezra 3:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 3:1-7 - The Building Of The Altar
Throughout their history the true Israelites were eager to maintain their genealogy; wherever they were scattered, they carefully guarded their national registers. Each of us should be able to establish his descent and to vindicate his claim to be considered a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ, a partaker in the inheritance which God has promised to them that love Him. If you cannot establish your sonship, you may doubt your right to the spiritual blessings which are a part of the family estates. This is clearly illustrated by the prohibition issued against the eating of the most holy things by the priests whose names were not found in the register. They must wait till the Urim and Thummin attested that they were Israelites indeed. What that witness was in these olden days, the testimony of the Holy Spirit is within us. He witnesses with our spirit that we are born of God.
The first act of the restored Jews was to set up the House of God. For this they gave willingly, and after their ability. The altar was the center of their religion. So the Cross of Jesus is the center of our life and worship, reminding us of His work for us in justification, or His claims in sanctification. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Ezra 3:3 mean?

And they set the altar on its bases Though fear [had come] upon them because of the people of those countries - and they offered on it burnt offerings to Yahweh [both] burnt offerings the morning and evening
וַיָּכִ֤ינוּ הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ עַל־ מְכ֣וֹנֹתָ֔יו כִּ֚י בְּאֵימָ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מֵעַמֵּ֖י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת [ויעל] (וַיַּעֲל֨וּ‪‬) עָלָ֤יו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה עֹל֖וֹת לַבֹּ֥קֶר וְלָעָֽרֶב

וַיָּכִ֤ינוּ  And  they  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
מְכ֣וֹנֹתָ֔יו  its  bases 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְכֹונָה  
Sense: fixed resting place, base, pedestal.
כִּ֚י  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בְּאֵימָ֣ה  fear  [had  come] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֵימָה 
Sense: terror, dread.
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם  upon  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מֵעַמֵּ֖י  because  of  the  people 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת  of  those  countries 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
[ויעל]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
(וַיַּעֲל֨וּ‪‬)  and  they  offered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
עָלָ֤יו  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עֹלוֹת֙  burnt  offerings 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֹלָה  
Sense: whole burnt offering.
לַֽיהוָ֔ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עֹל֖וֹת  [both]  burnt  offerings 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֹלָה  
Sense: whole burnt offering.
לַבֹּ֥קֶר  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וְלָעָֽרֶב  and  evening 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב  
Sense: evening, night, sunset.