Ezra 5:9

Ezra 5:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
• New International Version (NIV)We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?'
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: “Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?”

Context of Ezra 5:9

7This is what they said: King Darius, we hope that you are well. 8We went to Judah to visit the temple of the great God. The king should know that the Jews are building it with big stones. They are putting wooden beams in its walls. They are working hard and very carefully. The building is growing fast. We spoke to their leaders and we asked them, ‘Who gave you authority to build this temple and make it ready to use again?’ 10We also asked them to tell us their names. Then we could tell you who the leaders are. 11This is the answer that they gave to us: ‘We are servants of the God who rules heaven and earth. A great king of Israel built this temple and finished it many years ago. Now we are building it again.

Ezra 5:9 word by word

אֱדַ֗יִן שְׁאֵ֙לְנָא֙ לְשָׂבַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֔ךְ כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
• askedשְׁאֵלshe'êl · to askH7593
• we thoseאִלֵּךְ'illêk · theseH479
• eldersשִׂיבώîyb · be grayH7868
• saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
• unto them thusכְּנֵ֫מָאkenêmâ' · thusH3660
• Whoמָןmân · who?H4479
• commandedטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
• commandedשׂוּםώûm · to set: makeH7761
• you to buildבְּנָהbenâ' benâh · to buildH1124
• thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · houseH1005
• and to make upכְּלַלkelal · to completeH3635
• wallsאֻשַּׁרְנָא'ûshsharnâ' · wallH846

Cross-references for Ezra 5:9

• Ezra 5:3At that time, Tattenai was the ruler who had authority over the region on the west side of the Euphrates river. He went with Shethar-Bozenai and their friends to ask the Jews what they were doing. They asked them, ‘Who gave you the authority to build this temple and make it ready to use again?’

Commentaries on Ezra 5:9

• 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 5:9

• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Chaldee language
• Temple, the Second
• Apocalyptic Literature
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Bible, the
• Elder in the Old Testament
• Epistle
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Esdras, the Second (fourth) Book Of; Apocalyptic Esdras
• Ezra-Nehemiah

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