Ezra 5:9

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?
• New International Version (NIV)We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”
• 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 Living Translation (NLT)“We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’

Context of Ezra 5:9

7(They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus) To Darius the king: All peace. 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. Then 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. 11And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

Ezra 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

• Ezra 5:3At 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?”

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

• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Chaldee language
• Temple, the Second
• Apocalyptic Literature
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Bible, the
• Elder in the Old Testament
• Epistle
• 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