New International Version
Ezra 5:9
9We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”
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?
- 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?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’
Context of Ezra 5:9
7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings. 8The 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. We 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. 11This is the answer they gave us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.
Read all of Ezra 5Ezra 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
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
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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