Ezra 5:8

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success.

Context of Ezra 5:8

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. 7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings. 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. 9We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” 10We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

Ezra 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 2:1Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,
• Nehemiah 7:6These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,
• Nehemiah 11:3These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns,
• Esther 1:1This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush:
• Ezra 1:2“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
• Ezra 6:10so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
• Ezra 7:23Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?
• Deuteronomy 10:17For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
• Deuteronomy 32:31For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede.
• Psalms 145:3Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
• Daniel 2:47The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
• Daniel 3:26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
• Daniel 4:2It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
• Daniel 6:26“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.
• Mark 13:1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent 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

• Church
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• God
• Judea
• Chaldee language
• Temple, the Second
• Apocalyptic Literature
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Bible, the
• Diligence; Diligent; Diligently
• Epistle
• Esdras, the First Book of

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