Bible: Ezra’s Building of the Temple
The Biblical Book of Ezra is superficially about the building of a “temple in Jerusalem”, but actually about the building of a “retinue of secret assistants”.
Introduction
The Book of Ezra and the very similar Book of Nehemiah are 2 stories about the building of a temple in Jerusalem. As the word “temple” puns with “retinue”, and “Jerusalem” with “secret informant”, the texts are really about the building of a retinue of secret informants for the aristocratic overlords, presumably “ze Jews”.
(The building of a “second temple” that’s mentioned in other contexts is probably just another pun for the same thing, as “second” puns with “disguise”.)
For the Book of Ezra, I have decrypted the beginning, where the Persian king Cyrus sends out a call to help with the building of this secret retinue. If the word “Persia” is not a pun, the the creation of the “Jews” as an eternal minority may have started in that epoch. The text does not give any motives, but perhaps because the overlords had shifted official rulership from Semitic-speaking governments to a Persian one, the Semitic-speaking agents had to be moved into a more unofficial setup.
However, previous Biblical chapters also speak about building a “temple”, so the Persian-era efforts could have been just a renewal of older schemes.
(The actual details of brainwashing orthodox religious people into becoming evil idiot henchmen might be very interesting. But sadly, the puns of these books largely consist of numerology and endless lists of items & names which I have not yet decrypted.)
How to read this
- In the interlinear word-by-word translation, each word is shown as a little block; each verse is a paragraph of little blocks.
- Use the to choose your level: for secret meaning only, for secret & official English texts, for word-by-word vocabulary, for original text & glyphs.
- Possible pun-encrypted meaning is marked with light red.
- Official meaning is marked with light green.
- Pun vocabulary is in red, whenever the meaning differs. All vocabulary is linked to online dictionaries.
- Please read the introduction, the interchangeability rules, and judge yourself whether I got it right.
- Religious readers should proceed with care.
Building of the secret retinue
The rulers call on all helpers to help build a retinue of secret assistants.
Ezra 1:2
Encrypted: Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the reign of the oppressed have given me the hidden powers of confusion. And they have appointed me to build for them a retinue of secret informants who are informants.
Official: Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth has given me Yahweh God of heaven. And he has appointed me to build for him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
Thus
כה kh: thus, here
כה kh
כה kh: thus, here
Thus
says
אמר ˀmr: utter
אמר ˀmr
אמר ˀmr: utter
says
Cyrus
כורש kwrš: Cyrus
כרש krš
כורש kwrš: Cyrus
Cyrus
king
מלך mlk: king, ruler
מלך mlk
מלך mlk: king, ruler
king
of Persia:
פרס prs: Persia
פרס prs
פרס prs: Persia
of Persia:
All
כל kl: all, whole
כל kl
כל kl: all, whole
All
the reign
מ־ m-: of; מלכות mlkwt: reign, kingdom
ממלכות mmlkwt
מ־ m-: of; מלכות mlkwt: reign, kingdom
the kingdoms
of the oppressed
רצץ rṣṣ: oppressed
הארץ hˀrṣ
ארץ ˀrṣ: earth, land
of the earth
have given
נתן ntn: give
נתן ntn
נתן ntn: give
has given
me
ל־ l-: to; ־י -y: me
לי ly
ל־ l-: to; ־י -y: me
me
the hidden
יחבה yḥbh: hidden
יהוה yhwh
יהוה yhwh: Yahweh
Yahweh
powers
איל ˀyl: power, strength
אלהי ˀlhy
אלה ˀlh: God, god
God
of confusion.
שמם šmm: astonish, confound; שעמימו šˁmymw: mental confusion
השמים hšmym
שמים šmym: heaven, sky
of heaven.
And they
הוא hwˀ: he, she
והוא whwˀ
הוא hwˀ: he, she
And he
have appointed
פקד pqd: command, appoint
פקד pqd
פקד pqd: command, appoint
has appointed
me
על ˁl: to; ־י -y: me
עלי ˁly
על ˁl: to; ־י -y: me
me
to build
בנה bnh: build
לבנות lbnwt
בנה bnh: build
to build
for them
ל־ l-: for; ־ו -w: him
לו lw
ל־ l-: for; ־ו -w: him
for him
a retinue
ביתיא bytyˀ: retinue, assistants
בית byt
בית byt: house
a house
of secret informants
ב־ b-: with; עיר ˁyr: watch, inform; ש־ š-: make; עלם ˁlm: secret
בירושלם byrwšlm
ב־ b-: in; ירושלם yrwšlm: Jerusalem
at Jerusalem
who [are]
אשר ˀšr: who
אשר ˀšr
אשר ˀšr: which
which [is]
informants.
ב־ b-: as; הודיע hwdyˁ: make known, inform
ביהודה byhwdh
ב־ b-: in; יהודה yhwdh: Judah
in Judah.
Ezra 1:3
Encrypted: Who is among you of all their people, may be the secrecy with him, and let him raise the secret informants who are informants. and let him build up the assistants of the hidden powers of secret informing. They are the rulers who are secret rulers.
Official: Who is among you of all his people, may be his God with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and let him build the house of Yahweh God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem
Who [is]
מי my: who?, which
מי my
מי my: who?, which
Who [is]
among you
ב־ b-: among; ־כם -km: you
בכם bkm
ב־ b-: among; ־כם -km: you
among you
of all
כל kl: all, whole
מכל mkl
כל kl: all, whole
of all
[their] people,
עם ˁm: people, nation
עמו ˁmw
עם ˁm: people, nation
[his] people,
may be
היה hyh: be
יהי yhy
היה hyh: be
may be
the secrecy
עלום ˁlwm: hidden, secret
אלהיו ˀlhyw
אלהים ˀlhym: God, god
his God
with him,
עם ˁm: with, before
עמו ˁmw
עם ˁm: with, before
with him,
and let him raise
עלה ˁlh: raise, obtain, acquire
ויעל wyˁl
עלה ˁlh: go up
and [let him] go up
the secret informants
ל־ l-: for; עיר ˁyr: watch, inform; ש־ š-: make; עלם ˁlm: secret
לירושלם lyrwšlm
ל־ l-: to; ירושלם yrwšlm: Jerusalem
to Jerusalem
who [are]
אשר ˀšr: who
אשר ˀšr
אשר ˀšr: who, which
which [is]
informants.
ב־ b-: as; הודיע hwdyˁ: make known, inform
ביהודה byhwdh
ב־ b-: in; יהודה yhwdh: Judah
in Judah
and [let him] build up
בנה bnh: build
ויבן wybn
בנה bnh: build
and [let him] build
את ˀt: to
את ˀt
את ˀt: to
the assistants
ביתיא bytyˀ: retinue, assistants
בית byt
בית byt: house
the house
of the hidden
יחבה yḥbh: hidden
יהוה yhwh
יהוה yhwh: Yahweh
of Yahweh
powers
איל ˀyl: power, strength
אלהי ˀlhy
אלה ˀlh: God, god
God
of secret informing [??].
עיר ˁyr: watch, inform; ש־ š-: make; עלם ˁlm: secret
ישראל yšrˀl
ישראל yšrˀl: Israel
of Israel.
[They are]
הוא hwˀ: he, she
הוא hwˀ
הוא hwˀ: he, she
He [is]
the rulers
אלהים ˀlhym: mighty, rulers
האלהים hˀlhym
אלהים ˀlhym: God, god
the God
who [are]
אשר ˀšr: who
אשר ˀšr
אשר ˀšr: which
who [is]
secret rulers [??].
ב־ b-: as; עוצר ˁwṣr: ruler; ש־ š-: make; עלם ˁlm: secret
בירושלם byrwšlm
ב־ b-: in; ירושלם yrwšlm: Jerusalem
in Jerusalem
To create volunteers, people must be provoked & deceived.
Ezra 1:4
Encrypted: And whoever remains in any place where he dwells there, may he allure the men of his place, with deceptions and inversions and provocation and resemblances, with the volunteers for the retinue secret who are secret informants.
Official: And whoever remains in any place where he dwells there, may he raise the men of his place, with silver and gold and with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
And whoever
כל kl: all, whole
וכל wkl
כל kl: all, whole
And whoever
remains
שאר šˀr: remain
הנשאר hnšˀr
שאר šˀr: remain
remains
in any
כל kl: all, any
מכל mkl
כל kl: all, any
in any
place
מקום mqwm: place
המקמות hmqmwt
מקום mqwm: place
place
where
אשר ˀšr: who, which
אשר ˀšr
אשר ˀšr: who, which
where
he
הוא hwˀ: he, she
הוא hwˀ
הוא hwˀ: he, she
he
dwells
גור gwr: dwell
גר gr
גור gwr: dwell
dwells
there,
שם šm: there
שם šm
שם šm: there
there,
[may he] allure
נשא nšˀ: incite, allure
ינשאוהו ynšˀwhw
נשא nšˀ: lift, raise, carry
[may he] raise
the men
איש ˀyš: man
אנשי ˀnšy
איש ˀyš: man
the men
of [his] place,
מקום mqwm: standing place
מקמו mqmw
מקום mqwm: standing place
of [his] place,
with deceptions
כזב kzb: falsehood, deception, liar
בכסף bksp
כסף ksp: silver, money
with silver
and inversions
סחף sḥp: invert, disrupt, put on as a cover
ובזהב wbzhb
זהב zhb: gold
and gold
and provocation
רגז rgz: acting provocatively
וברכוש wbrkwš
רכוש rkwš: property, goods
and with goods
and resemblances,
פחם pḥm: liken, resemble
ובבהמה wbbhmh
בהמה bhmh: beast
and livestock,
with
עם ˁm: with, before
עם ˁm
עם ˁm: with, before
besides
the volunteers
נדב ndb: offer freely, willing, volunteer
הנדבה hndbh
נדב ndb: offer freely, willing, volunteer
the freewill [offerings]
for the retinue
ביתיא bytyˀ: retinue, assistants
לבית lbyt
בית byt: house
for the house
secret
עלם ˁlm: secret
האלהים hˀlhym
אלהים ˀlhym: God, god
of God
who [are]
אשר ˀšr: who
אשר ˀšr
אשר ˀšr: who, which
which [is]
secret informants.
ב־ b-: as; עיר ˁyr: watch, inform; ש־ š-: make; עלם ˁlm: secret
בירושלם byrwšlm
ב־ b-: in; ירושלם yrwšlm: Jerusalem
in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:5
Encrypted: And rose the heads of the leaders of the informers, and the men of guile, and the rulers, and their retinues, all whom had stirred the rulers in their spirits, to go up and build the retinue of Those of High Esteem who would be secret informants.
Official: And rose the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah, and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, all whom had awakened God in their spirits, to go up and build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem
And rose
קום qwm: rise
ויקומו wyqwmw
קום qwm: rise
And rose
the heads
ראש rˀš: head, leader
ראשי rˀšy
ראש rˀš: head, leader
the heads
of the leaders
אב ˀb: leader, chief
האבות hˀbwt
אב ˀb: father
of the fathers’ [houses]
of the informers,
הודיע hwdyˁ: make known, inform
ליהודה lyhwdh
יהודה yhwdh: Judah
of Judah,
and the men of guile,
בן bn: man; אומנו ˀwmnw: craft, guile
ובנימן wbnymn
בנימין bnymyn: Benjamin
and Benjamin,
and the rulers,
כהן khn: prince, ruler
והכהנים whkhnym
כהן khn: priest
and the priests,
and [their] retinues,
לוי lwy: retinue, companion
והלוים whlwym
לוי lwy: Levi, Levite
and the Levites,
all
ל־ l-: to; כל kl: all, whole
לכל lkl
ל־ l-: to; כל kl: all, whole
all
[whom] had stirred
עור ˁwr: stir, awaken
העיר hˁyr
עור ˁwr: stir, awaken
[whom] had awakened
the rulers
אלהים ˀlhym: mighty, rulers
האלהים hˀlhym
אלהים ˀlhym: God, god
God
את ˀt: to
את ˀt
את ˀt: to
[in their] spirits,
רוח rwḥ: breath, spirit
רוחו rwḥw
רוח rwḥ: breath, spirit
[in their] spirits,
to go up
עלה ˁlh: go up
לעלות lˁlwt
עלה ˁlh: go up
to go up
and build
בנה bnh: build
לבנות lbnwt
בנה bnh: build
and build
את ˀt: to
את ˀt
את ˀt: to
the retinue
ביתיא bytyˀ: retinue, assistants
בית byt
בית byt: house
the house
of [Those of High] Esteem
חבה / יחבה ḥbh / yḥbh: hidden, honor, esteem
יהוה yhwh
יהוה yhwh: Yahweh
of Yahweh
who [would be]
אשר ˀšr: who, which
אשר ˀšr
אשר ˀšr: who, which
which [is]
secret informants.
ב־ b-: with; עיר ˁyr: watch, inform; ש־ š-: make; עלם ˁlm: secret
בירושלם byrwšlm
ירושלם yrwšlm: Jerusalem
in Jerusalem
Ezra 1:6
Encrypted: And all those who were around them encouraged them with tools of deception, and with inversions, and with provocation, and with resemblances, and with subjugation, besides all who volunteered freely.
Official: And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver, and with gold, with with goods, and with livestock, and with gifts, besides all that was offered freely.
And all
כל kl: all, whole
וכל wkl
כל kl: all, whole
And all
those who [were] around them
סביב sbyb: circuit, round about
סביבתיהם sbybtyhm
סביב sbyb: circuit, round about
those who [were] around them
encouraged
חזק ḥzq: grow strong, encourage
חזקו ḥzqw
חזק ḥzq: grow strong, encourage
encouraged
them
ב־ b-: with; יד yd: hand; הם hm: they
בידיהם bydyhm
ב־ b-: with; יד yd: hand; הם hm: they
them
with tools
ב־ b-: with; כלי kly: tool, outfit
בכלי bkly
ב־ b-: with; כלי kly: article
with articles
of deception,
כזב kzb: falsehood, deception, liar
כסף ksp
כסף ksp: silver, money
of silver,
and with inversions,
ב־ b-: with; סחף sḥp: invert, disrupt, put on as a cover
בזהב bzhb
ב־ b-: with; זהב zhb: gold
and with gold,
and with provocation,
ב־ b-: with; רגז rgz: acting provocatively
ברכוש brkwš
ב־ b-: with; רכוש rkwš: property, goods
with with goods,
and with resemblances,
ב־ b-: with; פחם pḥm: liken, resemble
ובבהמה wbbhmh
ב־ b-: with; בהמה bhmh: beast
and with livestock,
and with subjugation,
ב־ b-: with; מ־ m-: of; כדן kdn: yoke, subjugate
ובמגדנות wbmgdnwt
ב־ b-: with; מגדן mgdn: gift
and with gifts,
besides
ל־ l-: to; בד bd: separation, part
לבד lbd
ל־ l-: to; בד bd: separation, part
besides
על ˁl: upon, above
על ˁl
על ˁl: upon, above
all
כל kl: all, whole
כל kl
כל kl: all, whole
all
[who] volunteered freely.
נדב ndb: incite
התנדב htndb
נדב ndb: offer freely, volunteer
[that] was offered freely.