New English Translation
Ezra 5:8
8Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.
Ezra 5:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
- New International Version (NIV)The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the temple of the great God, which is being built with heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.
Context of Ezra 5:8
6This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius. 7The report they sent to him was written as follows: “To King Darius: All greetings! Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands. 9We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’ 10We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.
Read all of Ezra 5Ezra 5:8 word by word
יְדִ֣יעַ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֗א דִּֽי־אֲזַ֜לְנָא לִיה֤וּד מְדִֽינְתָּא֙ לְבֵית֙ אֱלָהָ֣א רַבָּ֔א וְה֤וּא מִתְבְּנֵא֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּלָ֔ל וְאָ֖ע מִתְּשָׂ֣ם בְּכֻתְלַיָּ֑א וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא דָ֛ךְ אָסְפַּ֥רְנָא מִתְעַבְדָ֖א וּמַצְלַ֥ח בְּיֶדְהֹֽם׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Be it knownיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- Be it knownהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- unto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- that we wentאֲזַל'ăzal · to goH236
- into the provinceמְדִינָהmedîynâh · provinceH4083
- of Judeaיְהוּדyehûd · JudahH3061
- to the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · houseH1005
- of the greatרַבrab · greatH7229
- Godאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- which is buildedבְּנָהbenâ' benâh · to buildH1124
- with greatגְּלָלgelâl · greatH1560
- stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH69
- and timberאָע'â‛ · woodH636
- is laidשׂוּםώûm · to set: put/giveH7761
- in the wallsכְּתַלkethal · wallH3797
- and thisדֵּךְdêk dâk · thisH1791
- workעֲבִידָה‛ăbîydâh · serviceH5673
- goethעֲבַד‛ăbad · to makeH5648
- fastאׇסְפַּרְנָא'osparnâ' · diligentlyH629
- on, and prosperethצְלַחtselach · to prosperH6744
- in their handsיַדyad · handH3028
Cross-references for Ezra 5:8
- Ezra 2:1These are the people of the province who were going up, from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city.
- Nehemiah 7:6These are the people of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own city.
- Nehemiah 11:3These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem. (While other Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple attendants, and the sons of the servants of Solomon settled in the cities of Judah, each on his own property in their cities,
- Esther 1:1The following events happened in the days of Ahasuerus. (I am referring to that Ahasuerus who used to rule over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending all the way from India to Ethiopia.)
- Ezra 1:2“Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: “‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has instructed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
- Ezra 6:10so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.
- Ezra 7:23Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the empire of the king and his sons?
- Deuteronomy 10:17For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who is unbiased and takes no bribe,
- Deuteronomy 32:31For our enemies’ rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede.
- Psalms 145:3The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise! No one can fathom his greatness!
- Daniel 2:47The king replied to Daniel, “Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!”
- Daniel 3:26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.
- Daniel 4:2I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.
- Daniel 6:26I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God; he endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed; his authority is forever.
- Mark 13:1Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!”
Commentaries on Ezra 5:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8With great stones - They are making a very strong and a very costly building.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Great stones - literally, as in the margin; i. e., stones so large that they were rolled along, not carried. Others translate “polished stones.”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. 8The title the great God was a Persian way to refer to an important high deity. It does not mean the provincial authorities believed in Israel’s God. Following the design of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:36), builders placed a layer of timber in the walls after every three rows of prepared stones (see Ezra 6:4). This helped reduce potential earthquake damage.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 5:8
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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