Ezra 5:4 kjv
Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
Ezra 5:4 nkjv
Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.
Ezra 5:4 niv
They also asked, "What are the names of those who are constructing this building?"
Ezra 5:4 esv
They also asked them this: "What are the names of the men who are building this building?"
Ezra 5:4 nlt
They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple.
Ezra 5 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 10:9 | Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. | Integrity brings security. |
| John 3:21 | But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. | Transparency in true deeds. |
| 2 Cor 4:2 | But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning... by the open statement of the truth... | Openness in Christian conduct. |
| Acts 4:7-8 | And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them... | Confrontation with authority, Spirit-filled response. |
| Rom 13:1-7 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | Submission to governmental authority. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors... | Christian submission to governing powers. |
| Matt 10:19-20 | When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour... | Divine provision for speaking under scrutiny. |
| Luke 12:11-12 | And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you... | Trust in divine guidance during trials. |
| Neh 2:19 | But when Sanballat... Tobiah... and Geshem... heard of it, they scoffed at us and despised us and said, "What is this thing that you are doing?" | Opposition faced by other rebuilders. |
| Hag 1:1-8 | Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified... | Prophetic encouragement to rebuild. |
| Zech 4:6 | Then he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." | God's Spirit empowers the building. |
| Ezra 1:1-4 | In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus... to make a proclamation throughout all his kingdom... | The original decree authorizing the temple. |
| Ezra 6:1-12 | Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the treasures were laid up... | Subsequent investigation affirms the decree. |
| Is 43:1 | But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." | God's intimate knowledge of His people. |
| Exod 31:1-6 | See, I have called by name Bezalel... And I have inspired him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship... | God specifically names and empowers workers. |
| John 10:3 | The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. | Jesus knows His own by name. |
| Phil 4:3 | Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. | Recognition of workers for the Kingdom. |
| Ps 37:37 | Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. | Affirmation of integrity. |
| Is 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation..." | God is the ultimate builder/foundation. |
| Heb 3:4 | For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. | God as the ultimate builder. |
| Dan 3:16-18 | Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter." | Boldness in refusing to compromise. |
| Matt 5:14-16 | "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand... | Public witness of God's work. |
Ezra 5 verses
Ezra 5 4 Meaning
Ezra 5:4 details the immediate and direct response of the Jewish elders to the imperial officials who challenged their temple rebuilding project. Faced with the governor Tattenai's inquiry about the authority for their construction and the identity of the workers, the elders transparently identified the men involved in the building of the structure. This was a statement of open cooperation and an implicit affirmation of the legality and divine mandate of their work, demonstrating their resolve and lack of hidden motives in resuming God's house.
Ezra 5 4 Context
Ezra 5:4 is part of a crucial confrontation between the restored Jewish community in Judah and the Persian imperial administration. The building of the Second Temple had resumed after a period of dormancy, stirred by the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah. Tattenai, the governor of the Trans-Euphrates province, accompanied by Shethar-Bozenai and their officials, arrives in Jerusalem to investigate the unannounced resumption of such a significant public works project. His questions in Ezra 5:3 address both the authorization ("Who issued you a decree?") and the identity of those responsible ("And what are the names of the men who are erecting this building?"). Ezra 5:4 provides the answer to the latter part of this query. This dialogue sets the stage for the extended appeal of the Jewish leaders to Darius in subsequent verses, eventually leading to royal affirmation for the temple's reconstruction.
Ezra 5 4 Word analysis
Then we told them (וַאֲמַרְנָא לְהוֹן, wa'ămarnā ləhôn): The Aramaic construction emphasizes a direct and immediate verbal response. The Jewish leaders did not hesitate, prevaricate, or attempt to evade the inquiry. This directness indicates their confidence in the righteousness of their cause and their willingness to operate openly, without secrecy.
what the names (מָא אִינוּן שְׁמָהָת, mā 'înnûn šəmāhāt): The use of the interrogative "what/who" in combination with the plural "names" points to a request for identification and accountability. The leaders were not afraid to identify themselves or those under their charge. In ancient contexts, knowing names could signify legal responsibility or official recognition.
of the men were (גֻּבְרַיָּא, gubrayyā'): This term refers specifically to the male individuals, workers, or leaders directly involved in the physical construction. It highlights that identifiable human agents were performing the work, not an anonymous or shadowy group. These men were led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua, operating under the prior decree of Cyrus.
who were building this building (דִּי בָנַיִן אִיסְפַּרְנָא דְנָה, dî bānayin 'îspar'nā dənā):
- building (בָנַיִן, bānayin): A present participle, indicating ongoing action. They were actively engaged in construction.
- this building (אִיסְפַּרְנָא דְנָה, 'îspar'nā dənā): The Aramaic 'îspar'nā is a Persian loanword, meaning "structure" or "building," here unequivocally referring to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The definite "this" points specifically to the tangible project underway, the very structure causing the inquiry.
"Then we told them what the names of the men were who were building this building." This entire statement demonstrates a posture of openness and non-evasiveness. By giving specific names, they provided clarity to the officials, trusting that such transparency would stand in good stead, especially once their ultimate authority (the decree of King Cyrus) was presented. It shows they had nothing to hide and were willing to submit to legitimate inquiry while maintaining their commitment to God's work. This openness became a foundation for the successful appeal that followed, showcasing faith operating with practical wisdom.
Ezra 5 4 Bonus section
- The Aramaic section of Ezra (4:8 – 6:18 and 7:12 – 7:26) where Ezra 5:4 resides, indicates that these parts primarily deal with official communications, royal decrees, and administrative matters related to the Persian Empire. The choice of Aramaic, the lingua franca of the empire, suggests the emphasis on the legal and diplomatic context of the rebuilding efforts.
- The fact that the Jews responded by identifying the names of the men (presumably including Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and perhaps others like Haggai and Zechariah who exhorted them) speaks to the communal responsibility and collective effort involved in God's work. It wasn't one anonymous builder, but a specific community responding to a divine call.
- This verse subtly reinforces the prophetic message of Haggai, who stressed the importance of actively rebuilding the house of God. The readiness of the elders to account for the builders demonstrates their commitment to follow the prophetic word.
Ezra 5 4 Commentary
Ezra 5:4 records a pivotal moment of transparency from the Jewish leaders, highlighting their commitment to integrity even under governmental scrutiny. Rather than being evasive or defensive when challenged by Tattenai and his officials, they immediately provided the identities of the men engaged in the Temple reconstruction. This openness signaled their confidence in the legitimacy of their project, rooted in King Cyrus's original decree and divinely spurred by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Their straightforward response paved the way for the thorough investigation that eventually led King Darius to reaffirm the Temple building mandate, underscoring how integrity and truth can lead to God's work prevailing even in challenging political landscapes. This action embodies a principle of clear and direct communication, fostering an environment where divine purposes can be officially validated.