New King James Version
Ezra 5:8
8Let 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.
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 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 sent: The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king. 7(They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus) To Darius the king: All peace. 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. 9Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: “Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?” 10We also asked them their names to inform you, that we might write the names of the men who were chief among them.
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 2:1Now these are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his own city.
- Nehemiah 7:6These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.
- Nehemiah 11:3These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities—Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon’s servants.)
- Esther 1:1Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),
- Ezra 1:2Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
- Ezra 6:10that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
- Ezra 7:23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and 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 nor takes a bribe.
- Deuteronomy 32:31For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges.
- Psalms 145:3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
- Daniel 2:47The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
- Daniel 3:26Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
- Daniel 4:2I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.
- Daniel 6:26I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.
- Mark 13:1Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries