Ezra 5:3

Ezra 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
• English Standard Version (ESV)At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?”

Context of Ezra 5:3

1Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” 4They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” 5But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

Ezra 5:3 word by word

בֵּהּ־זִמְנָא֩ אֲתָ֨א עֲלֵיה֜וֹן תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה וּשְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן וְכֵן֙ אָמְרִ֣ין לְהֹ֔ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לִבְּנֵ֔א וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• At the same timeזְמַןzemân · timeH2166
• cameאֲתָה'âthâh 'âthâ' · to comeH858
• to them Tatnaiתַּתְּנַיtattenay · TattenaiH8674
• governorפֶּחָהpechâh · governorH6347
• on this sideעֲבַר‛ăbar · beyondH5675
• the riverנְהַרnehar · RiverH5103
• and Shethar–boznaiשְׁתַר בּוֹזְנַיshethar bôzenay · Shethar-bozenaiH8370
• and their companionsכְּנָתkenâth · associateH3675
• and saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
• thusכֵּןkên · thusH3652
• unto themעַל‛al · uponH5922
• Whoמָןmân · who?H4479
• hath commandedטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
• hath commandedשׂוּםώûm · to set: makeH7761
• you to buildבְּנָהbenâ' benâh · to buildH1124
• thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · houseH1005
• and to make upכְּלַלkelal · to completeH3635
• wallאֻשַּׁרְנָא'ûshsharnâ' · wallH846

Cross-references for Ezra 5:3

• Ezra 5:6This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius.
• Ezra 6:6Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there.
• Ezra 7:21Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you—
• Nehemiah 2:7I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?
• Ezra 5:9We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”
• Ezra 1:3Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.
• Matthew 21:23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
• Acts 4:7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Commentaries on Ezra 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Tatnai, governor - He was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire on their side of the Euphrates, comprehending Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia, and Samaria. He seems to have been a mild and judicious man; and to have acted with great prudence and caution, and without any kind of prejudice. The manner in which he represented this to the king is a full proof of this disposition.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Governor on this side the river - Compare Ezra 4:10 note. Tatnai was apparently satrap of Syria, which included the whole tract west of the Euphrates from Cilicia to the borders of Egypt. Zerubbabel must have been, to some extent, under his authority. Who hath commanded you to build? - There was no doubt a formal illegality in the conduct of Zerubbabel and Jeshua: since all edicts of Persian kings continued in force unless revoked by their successors. But…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. 3Who authorized you: Unlike the hostile opposition in Ezra 4, this seems to be a routine check to ensure everything follows official rules.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river--The Persian empire west of the Euphrates included at this time Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Phoenicia, and other provinces subject to Darius. The empire was divided into twenty provinces, called satrapies. Syria formed one satrapy, inclusive of Palestine, Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and furnished an annual revenue of three hundred fifty talents. It was presided over by a satrap or viceroy…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezra 5:3

• Government
• Liberality
• Shethar-Boznai
• Tatnai
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Euphrates River, the River
• Chaldee language
• Governor
• Shetharboznai
• Apocalyptic Literature
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Bible, the
• 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