Ezra 5:9 kjv
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
Ezra 5:9 nkjv
Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: "Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?"
Ezra 5:9 niv
We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?"
Ezra 5:9 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?'
Ezra 5:9 nlt
"We asked the leaders, 'Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?'
Ezra 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Authority & Mandate for God's House | ||
| Hag 1:8 | "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD. | Divine command to build the Temple |
| Zech 4:9 | "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it..." | God's promise of completion for His house |
| Ezra 1:2-3 | "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD... has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem..." | Cyrus's decree, divine origin |
| Ezra 6:3 | "In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem..." | Confirmation of Cyrus's building decree |
| Ezra 6:7 | "...let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders... rebuild this house of God on its site." | Darius's subsequent permission/mandate for building |
| Psa 127:1 | "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." | Emphasizes divine initiation in all building |
| Isa 54:11-12 | "O afflicted one... behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires..." | Prophetic promise of restoration/rebuilding |
| Opposition to God's Work | ||
| Ezra 4:21 | "Therefore issue an order that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not built until a decree is issued by me." | Previous decree to stop building |
| Neh 2:19 | "...they scoffed at us... and said, 'What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?'" | Similar questioning of authority/loyalty |
| Acts 4:7 | "And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, 'By what power or by what name did you do this?'" | Questioning apostles' authority |
| Matt 21:23 | "...By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?'" | Questioning Jesus' authority by religious leaders |
| Divine Sovereignty & Enabling | ||
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's ultimate authority over kingdoms |
| Ezra 7:6 | "...the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him." | God's hand enabling His servants through rulers |
| The Spiritual House (New Covenant) | ||
| 1 Cor 3:9 | "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." | Believers as God's spiritual building |
| Eph 2:19-20 | "...members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone..." | The Church as God's spiritual house |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood..." | Believers as living stones forming a spiritual house |
| Heb 3:6 | "...but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence..." | Christ as the builder of the true spiritual house |
| John 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'... But he was speaking about the temple of his body." | Jesus himself is the ultimate Temple |
| Rev 21:14 | "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." | The foundational spiritual structure of the New Jerusalem |
Ezra 5 verses
Ezra 5 9 Meaning
Ezra 5:9 records the direct questioning by the Persian governors, Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai, along with their officials, to the Jewish elders concerning the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. They inquired as to who had given them the authority or command to undertake such a significant construction project, encompassing both the main house of God and its foundational or structural elements often translated as "wall." This query sought to ascertain the legitimacy of the work in the eyes of the Persian imperial law.
Ezra 5 9 Context
Ezra chapter 5 marks a pivotal moment in the rebuilding of the Second Temple. Following decades of cessation due to Samaritan opposition and an imperial decree from a previous Persian king (Ezra 4), the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem was stirred by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1). Motivated by God's word, Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed construction. This renewed activity quickly attracted the attention of Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River (Trans-Euphrates), and Shethar-Bozenai, one of his associates. Their arrival and direct inquiry, as captured in verse 9, represents a formal governmental investigation into the legitimacy of the rebuilding work, which from an imperial perspective, was a significant undertaking requiring royal authorization and adherence to Persian law. The query reflects the methodical administrative processes of the vast Persian Empire, where governors were responsible for order and adherence to central decrees.
Ezra 5 9 Word analysis
Then asked we: The Aramaic term for "asked" (שְׁאֵלְנָא - shĕʾēlĕnāʾ) implies a formal, official inquiry, rather than a casual question. The "we" refers to the governmental delegation led by Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai. This highlights the serious nature of their visit, acting as representatives of the imperial authority.
those elders: In Aramaic, "elders" (לְשָׁבַיָּא אִלֵּךְ - lĕshāvayyāʾ illēḵ) denotes the respected Jewish leaders, likely those appointed over the affairs of the returnees, including Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and others directly supervising the construction. They were the visible representatives of the Jewish community.
and said unto them thus: This phrase emphasizes the direct and immediate nature of the interrogation, signifying the precise and legalistic tone of the encounter.
Who commanded you: The Aramaic "Who is the one who set for you a decree/order?" (מַן־הוּא דִּי־שָׂם לְכֹם טְעֵם - man-hūʾ dî-śām lĕkhōm ṭeʿēm). The term ṭeʿēm specifically refers to an official mandate, order, or decree. This indicates the governors were not merely curious but were looking for legal authorization, a crucial element in the highly centralized Persian administration for any large-scale project.
to build this house: Refers to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. This was the spiritual and communal center of the Jewish exiles, a physical representation of their covenant with God and their return to Him. Its construction was both a religious imperative and a politically significant act within the empire.
and to make up this wall?: The Aramaic for "to make up" (וְלַשַּׁכְלָלָה - wĕlashshaklālāh) means "to complete," "to perfect," or "to finish." The term "wall" (אֻשַּׁרְנָא - ʾushsharnāʾ) literally means "foundation" or "structure." While some translations use "wall," it generally refers to the substantial structural elements of the building. This indicates the governors were not just concerned with the symbolic "house" but the practical completion and security implications of the entire fortified edifice.
Words-group: "Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?": This collective phrase constitutes a pointed legal inquiry. It seeks to uncover the precise origin of authority behind the re-commenced construction work, demanding to know the name of the official—either an existing imperial mandate or an individual—who authorized such a large-scale project. This question of legitimacy forms the crux of the provincial governors' concern, implying that if no such authorized decree existed, the work might be considered illicit and subject to immediate cessation.
Ezra 5 9 Bonus section
The specific details sought by Tattenai—"Who commanded you...to build this house, and to make up this wall?"—show his administrative diligence. He was not satisfied with a general claim but wanted the exact decree or individual responsible. This led the Jewish elders to precisely recount Cyrus's initial decree (Ezra 5:11-17), necessitating a search of the royal archives, which ultimately yielded a confirmation and even a new protective decree from King Darius (Ezra 6). Thus, the very challenge meant to potentially hinder the work was providentially used by God to accelerate and safeguard it. This demonstrates God's intricate working through what might seem like opposition or bureaucratic hurdles.
Ezra 5 9 Commentary
Ezra 5:9 encapsulates a direct challenge to the resumed work on the Temple in Jerusalem. The Persian governors, Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai, acting in their official capacity, interrogate the Jewish elders on the authority behind the construction of "this house" and its "wall." Their question, "Who commanded you?", is not idle curiosity but a formal demand for an official, imperial decree. In a vast empire like Persia, such a major undertaking without clear authorization would be a matter of grave concern, potentially viewed as a rebellious act or at least a disruption of regional stability.
This interrogation highlights the clash between earthly governmental authority and divine mandate. The Jewish elders, having been spurred by God's prophets Haggai and Zechariah, knew their ultimate command came from the Most High God, reiterated through King Cyrus's original decree (Ezra 1). The governors, however, were focused on human law and protocol. This tension serves to underline God's providence, as He ultimately used this secular inquiry to bring about further imperial decrees in favor of the Temple's completion, demonstrating His sovereignty over earthly rulers and their systems (as seen in Ezra 6). For believers today, this can serve as a reminder that God often uses both spiritual inspiration and secular processes to achieve His purposes, even when faced with official scrutiny. It also prompts us to consider the ultimate authority under which we build our lives and carry out God's work, which is His divine Word and Spirit.