Ezra 5:17

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 utensils. Place them in the temple in Jerusalem. Rebuild God’s temple on its original site.’ 16Then Sheshbazzar laid the foundation of God’s temple in Jerusalem. The temple has been under construction from that time until now, but it still isn’t finished.” If it pleases Your Majesty, allow someone to search the king’s archives in Babylon to determine whether King Cyrus gave permission for the temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then please send us Your Majesty’s decision on this matter.

Ezra 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 you should search the official records of your predecessors. You will find in those official records that this city has been rebellious and has been a threat to kings and provinces. This city has a history of rebelliousness. That’s why this city was destroyed.
• Ezra 6:1Then King Darius gave the order to search the library where the archives were stored in Babylon.
• Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to hide things but the glory of kings to investigate them.
• Ezra 6:3Date: Cyrus’ first year as king From: King Cyrus Subject: God’s temple in Jerusalem The temple should be rebuilt as a place to offer sacrifices. Its foundation should be laid. It should be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide

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

• King
• Persia
• Temple
• Treasure-Houses

In the dictionaries

• Babylon
• Cyrus
• God
• Jerusalem
• House of God
• Chaldee language
• Temple, the Second
• Treasure houses
• Apocalyptic Literature
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language

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