Ezra 6:13 kjv
Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
Ezra 6:13 nkjv
Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent.
Ezra 6:13 niv
Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence.
Ezra 6:13 esv
Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered.
Ezra 6:13 nlt
Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues complied at once with the command of King Darius.
Ezra 6 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Pro 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God's sovereignty over rulers |
| Isa 44:28 | who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’ | God uses gentile rulers for His purpose |
| Isa 45:1-4 | Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held... to open before him the double doors... that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. | God orchestrates global powers |
| Ezra 1:1-3 | Now 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... to build Him a house at Jerusalem. | Fulfillment of prophecy through kings |
| Ezra 5:3-5 | At the same time Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai... came to them and thus spoke... But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. | Prior investigation leading to this decree |
| Ezra 6:11 | Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse dump because of this. | Strictness of Darius's decree |
| Ezra 6:14-15 | So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it... in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. | Temple completion with royal support |
| Neh 2:7-8 | Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors beyond the River, that they must give me safe passage... and a letter to Asaph... that he must give me timber." | Royal letters facilitating God's work |
| Hag 1:13-14 | Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger... ‘I am with you,’ says the Lord.” So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel... and the spirit of Joshua... and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord. | Divine enablement to build |
| Zec 4:6-9 | “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts... “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it.” | God's Spirit ensures completion |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God. | Obedience to divinely appointed authority |
| Tit 3:1 | Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work. | Christians are to obey civil authority |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. | Submission to governing structures |
| Eph 6:6 | not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. | Diligence in duty for God's sake |
| Col 3:23-24 | And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. | Diligence in all tasks |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. | Prompt and willing actions, cheerful obedience |
| Psa 119:60 | I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments. | Hastiness in obedience |
| Phil 2:14 | Do all things without complaining and disputing. | Avoiding resistance, diligent execution |
| Deut 6:1-3 | Now this is the commandment... that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments... that your days may be prolonged... as the Lord God of your fathers promised you. | Blessing on obedience |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." | Superiority of obedience to God's will |
| 2 Chr 29:36 | Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, for the thing was done suddenly. | God's prepared way, sudden action |
| Pro 10:4 | He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. | Blessing on diligence and promptness |
Ezra 6 verses
Ezra 6 13 Meaning
Ezra 6:13 details the swift and diligent obedience of Tattenai, the governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues. Following the exact directives King Darius had sent, they immediately set about providing the necessary resources and cooperation for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse signifies a crucial turning point where imperial opposition transformed into active support, enabling God’s people to continue His work unhindered by the government officials.
Ezra 6 13 Context
Ezra chapter 6 marks the climax of a period of renewed effort and initial opposition regarding the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Chapters 4 and 5 detail how, after the return from exile and the laying of the Temple's foundation (Ezra 3), the work was opposed by adversaries who wrote to successive Persian kings (Ahasuerus/Xerxes, Artaxerxes) and eventually caused a cessation of work (Ezra 4). In Ezra 5, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the disheartened exiles to resume building. This re-sparked the attention of local Persian officials, including Governor Tattenai of Trans-Euphrates. Instead of immediately halting the work, Tattenai prudently inquired of the Jews about their authority for building and sent a full report to King Darius. Darius, upon receiving the report, ordered a search of the royal archives, where Cyrus's original decree concerning the Temple's rebuilding was found (Ezra 6:1-5). Subsequently, Darius issued a strong counter-decree, commanding Tattenai and his associates not only to allow the work to proceed unhindered but also to provide funds and supplies for the construction and for daily sacrifices, under severe penalties for non-compliance (Ezra 6:6-12). Ezra 6:13, therefore, describes the direct, obedient, and prompt execution of this crucial royal mandate, enabling the final phase of Temple construction.
Ezra 6 13 Word analysis
Then (אֱדַיִן, ’edāyin): This Aramaic conjunction signifies "at that time" or "thereupon," indicating an immediate sequence of events. It highlights the prompt reaction following the reception of King Darius's decree, emphasizing lack of delay.
Tattenai (תַּתְּנַי, tattnāy): The specific governor of the region. His name, of probable Persian origin, underscores the foreign administration. His swift compliance is notable because he was the one who had initially investigated and reported the building activities.
governor (פַחַת, peḥat): Aramaic for "satrap" or "governor." This term refers to a high-ranking official appointed by the Persian king, wielding significant administrative, military, and judicial authority over a province. This indicates the imperial backing given to the work.
of Trans-Euphrates (עֲבַר־נַהֲרָא, ’ăbar nahărā’): Aramaic for "across the river," specifically referring to the Persian satrapy west of the Euphrates River, which included Judah. This geographical detail specifies the extent of Tattenai's jurisdiction and the broad reach of the imperial decree.
Shethar-Bozenai (שְׁתַר־בּוֹזְנַי, sheṯar-boznay): An official working with Tattenai, likely a high-ranking secretary or treasurer. His inclusion highlights that the compliance was a collective effort of the regional administration, not just one person.
and their colleagues (וּכְנָוָתְהוֹן, ūḵĕnāwāṯĕhōwn): Aramaic for "and their associates" or "and their companions." This broad term includes all other officials and subordinates involved in the provincial administration. It emphasizes comprehensive adherence across the governmental structure, removing any bureaucratic resistance.
did so (עֲבַדוּ כְנֵמָא, ’ăḇāḏū ḵenēmā’): Aramaic for "they did thus" or "they carried out in that manner." It points to direct and full execution of the command without deviation or interpretation.
with all diligence (בַּחֲפִיזֻת, baḥăp̄īzuṯ): This Aramaic phrase means "with speed," "with haste," or "diligently." It implies not just obedience but a prompt, unhesitating, and thorough implementation of the royal decree. It speaks of the officials' careful attention to fulfilling the king's exact wishes to avoid severe punishment.
as King Darius had sent (כְּמָא דִּי שְׁלַח דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא, kəmā’ dî šĕlaḥ dāryāweš malḵā’): Aramaic for "according as King Darius the king had sent." This final phrase reinforces that their actions were a direct, precise fulfillment of the monarch's written directive, showcasing the unquestionable authority of the king and the effectiveness of Persian administration in enforcing its decrees across the empire.
"Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues": This collective naming emphasizes that the entire administrative machinery of the large Persian satrapy moved in unified, disciplined obedience to the king's will. It demonstrates the complete eradication of official opposition and the transformation of a hinderance into an aid.
"did so with all diligence, as King Darius had sent": This entire phrase underscores not only the fact of obedience but also its quality: it was swift (diligence/haste) and exact (as Darius had sent). This prompt and precise execution was vital for the immediate resumption and progress of the Temple building. It illustrates the effectiveness of divine intervention in redirecting governmental power.
Ezra 6 13 Bonus section
The Aramaic portions of Ezra, including Ezra 6:13, are valued by scholars for their authentic administrative language, mirroring the known practices of the Persian Empire. The meticulous record-keeping mentioned in this narrative (Ezra 5:17, 6:1-2) and the structure of official communication (letters from governor to king, royal decree) align with extra-biblical archeological findings, such as the Elephantine papyri. These external validations indirectly bolster the historical reliability of Ezra's account of events and King Darius I's reign. The shift from an initial investigation that could have led to renewed suppression to an outcome where the officials became facilitators demonstrates a profound and divinely directed turn of events, ensuring God's covenant plan for His people and the Temple's restoration. This event serves as an encouragement that even powerful earthly obstacles can be swiftly removed by God's providence, enabling His people to fulfill His call.
Ezra 6 13 Commentary
Ezra 6:13 is a pivotal verse, marking the definitive shift from imperial hindrance to imperial assistance in the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. Following Darius's stringent decree, Governor Tattenai and his administrative team, the very officials who had previously interrogated and sought to stop the work, now diligently and without delay enforced the new royal command. The "diligence" in their action indicates not mere compliance but an earnest, thorough, and swift execution, compelled by the king's severe penalties and detailed instructions. This rapid implementation ensured that the temple project would proceed unhindered, benefiting from imperial resources and protection. It stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereign control over even powerful gentile rulers (Prov 21:1), turning their hearts to fulfill His purposes (Isa 44:28). This divinely orchestrated obedience provided the essential external peace and provisions necessary for the Temple's completion, allowing the returned exiles to finally focus on their sacred task, just as God had ordained.