Christian Standard Bible
Ezra 5:17
17So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king’s decision regarding this matter be sent to us.
Ezra 5:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
- New International Version (NIV)Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.
Context of Ezra 5:17
15Cyrus told him, “Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.” 16Then this same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of God’s house in Jerusalem. It has been under construction from that time until now, but it has not been completed. So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king’s decision regarding this matter be sent to us.
Read all of Ezra 5Ezra 5:17 word by word
וּכְעַ֞ן הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב יִ֠תְבַּקַּר בְּבֵ֨ית גִּנְזַיָּ֜א דִּי־מַלְכָּ֣א תַמָּה֮ דִּ֣י בְּבָבֶל֒ הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־מִן־כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְמִבְנֵ֛א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דֵ֖ךְ בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּרְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה יִשְׁלַ֥ח עֲלֶֽינָא׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowכְּעַןke‛an · nowH3705
- therefore, ifהֵןhên · ifH2006
- goodטָבţâb · fineH2869
- toעַל‛al · uponH5922
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- let there be searchבְּקַרbeqar · to enquireH1240
- treasureגְּנַזgenaz · treasureH1596
- houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · houseH1005
- thereתַּמָּהtâm · thereH8536
- at Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH895
- it beאִיתַי'îythay · there isH383
- that a decreeטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
- was madeשׂוּםώûm · to set: makeH7761
- ofמִן־min · fromH4481
- Cyrusכּ֫וֹרֶשׁkôresh · CyrusH3567
- to buildבְּנָהbenâ' benâh · to buildH1124
- thisדֵּךְdêk dâk · thisH1791
- of Godאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- at Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlêm · JerusalemH3390
- sendשְׁלַחshelach · to sendH7972
- his pleasureרְעוּre‛ûth · pleasureH7470
- this matterדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
Cross-references for Ezra 5:17
- Ezra 4:15that a search should be made in your predecessors’ record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
- Ezra 6:1King Darius gave the order, and they searched in the library of Babylon in the archives.
- Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
- Ezra 6:3In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its original foundations be retained. Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety feet,
Commentaries on Ezra 5:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The - treasure house - גנזיא ginzaiya . This is a Persian word, gunji, a treasury. There is a great deal of good sense and candour in this letter. Nothing of passion or prejudice appears in it. They laid before the king a fair statement without any attempt to prejudice his mind, and gave him those directions which were most likely to lead him to the truth, and to form a correct judgment on a business which, however it issued, must be of considerable…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Let there be search made at Babylon - They perhaps doubted whether proof of the decree of Cyrus remained in the archives. The Pseudo-Smerdis had had the records in his power for seven months; and, when he reversed the policy of his predecessors, might have been expected to destroy their edicts. The decree was not found at Babylon, the most natural place for it, but in the provincial capital of Ecbatana, which Tatnai and his friends had not asked Darius…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-17Verses 3-17 While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discouraging. The elders of the Jews gave the Samaritans an account of their proceedings. Let us learn hence, with meekness and fear, to give a reason of the hope that is in us; let us rightly understand, and then readily declare, what we do in God's service…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-17Ezra includes a copy in Aramaic of Tattenai’s letter to King Darius. Unlike the letter in Ezra 4:11–16, this letter simply asks if the Jews' actions are valid.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-175-17. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, &c.--The unusual presence, the imposing suite, the authoritative enquiries of the satrap appeared formidable, and might have produced a paralyzing influence or led to disastrous consequences, if he had been a partial and corrupt judge or actuated by unfriendly feelings towards the Jewish cause. The historian, therefore, with characteristic piety, throws in this parenthetical verse to intimate…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezra 5:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezra 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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