Ezra 6 6

Ezra 6:6 kjv

Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

Ezra 6:6 nkjv

Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there.

Ezra 6:6 niv

Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there.

Ezra 6:6 esv

"Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.

Ezra 6:6 nlt

So King Darius sent this message: "Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River ? stay away from there!

Ezra 6 verses

Ezra 6 6 Meaning

Ezra 6:6 presents a direct command from King Darius I to Tattenai, the Persian governor of the Trans-Euphrates region, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associated officials. Having confirmed King Cyrus's original decree concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, Darius now sternly instructs these officials to keep a significant distance from the temple construction site. This instruction implies a cessation of their previous interference, a directive to not impede the work, and, by extension, a command to allow the Jewish builders to proceed unhindered with the temple's reconstruction. It signifies the removal of opposition through royal decree.

Ezra 6 6 Context

Ezra chapter 6 details the positive turning point in the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. After decades of delays, local adversaries had again tried to halt the work by questioning its legitimacy to Tattenai, the governor of the Persian satrapy of Trans-Euphrates. Tattenai, in turn, wrote to King Darius I, seeking confirmation of the original decree by Cyrus concerning the Temple's rebuilding (Ezra 5:3-17).

Darius, after searching the royal archives in Ecbatana (modern Hamadan, Iran), found the decree issued by Cyrus in his first year of reign (Ezra 6:1-5). This finding completely vindicated the Jews' claim to be building with royal sanction. Verses 6-12 then present Darius's powerful and comprehensive counter-decree, which not only validates the building project but commands support for it. Verse 6 specifically addresses the officials who had raised the initial inquiry, directing them to withdraw from any interference, marking a significant reversal of their obstructive role. This decree, therefore, transitions from an inquiry to an endorsement and enforcement of the temple's reconstruction.

Ezra 6 6 Word analysis

• Now therefore, (אֻשְׁכְּעַן - ushkeʿan)
  • Word Level: This Aramaic adverbial phrase, combining "now" (ushken) and "therefore" or "accordingly" (daen), serves as a crucial connective. It signals a formal conclusion drawn from the preceding evidence (the discovery of Cyrus's decree). It signifies that the king's forthcoming command is grounded in confirmed legality and authoritative findings, not just an arbitrary decision. It carries the weight of official royal declaration.
• Tattenai, (תַּתְּנַי - Tattnāy)
  • Word Level: This is the name of the Persian governor mentioned in Ezra 5:3. His name is confirmed by extrabiblical cuneiform texts as "Tatannu," governor of Eber-Nari, validating the historical accuracy of Ezra. He represents the highest regional administrative authority.
• governor (פַּחַת - paḥat)
  • Word Level: Aramaic term for "governor" or "satrap." This title signifies high authority in the Persian imperial structure. The pachat was the head of a province, responsible for administrative and judicial affairs, including tax collection. It highlights the direct command from the Great King (Darius) to his regional delegate.
• of the region Beyond the River, (עֲבַר־נַהֲרָה - ʿǎḇar-Nahăra)
  • Word Level: Aramaic for "Across the River" or "Trans-Euphrates." This was a satrapy (Persian province) that included Syria, Phoenicia, Samaria, and Judah. This geographically precise term identifies the administrative domain of Tattenai and the area where the Temple construction was taking place. It underlines the reach of Darius's authority.
• and Shethar-Bozenai, (וּשְׁתַר־בּוֹזְנַי - ūŠĕṯar-Bōznay)
  • Word Level: The name of an official accompanying Tattenai in his initial inquiry (Ezra 5:3). His specific inclusion signifies that the command is directed to all those who were involved in the opposition.
• and your associates (וְכִנְוָתְכֹם - wəḵinwāṯḵom)
  • Word Level: Aramaic term meaning "colleagues," "fellow-workers," or "confederates." This indicates that the directive applies not only to Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai personally but to their entire network of subordinates and collaborators who assisted in or perpetuated the opposition to the Temple rebuilding. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of Darius's decree.
• the officials (אֲפַרְכְסָיֵא - ’ăparḵsayê), [Alternative: Aramaic manuscript variants for "officials" also include other forms, referring to administrative and legal officers, underlining comprehensive targeting]
  • Word Level: This specific term refers to commissioners, deputies, or prefects – essentially other high-ranking administrative or judicial officers under Tattenai's authority. Their inclusion ensures that no level of the provincial bureaucracy can justify further interference.
• who are in the region Beyond the River, (דִּי בַעֲבַר־נַהֲרָה - dî ḇaʿăḇar-Nahăra)
  • Word Level: Reiteration of the geographical jurisdiction. It clarifies that the command is specific to these particular officials and their domain, emphasizing that the source of the former hindrance is now bound by this decree.
• keep yourselves far from there. (רַחִקוּ מִתַּמָּה - raḥīqū mittammāh)
  • Word Level: The Aramaic verb "rachīqu" is an emphatic imperative meaning "remove yourselves," "be far off," or "keep your distance." It's a very strong command. The "there" refers to the construction site in Jerusalem. This is the crux of the verse: an absolute order for non-interference and disengagement from the temple work. It is not just permission to build, but a command to remove obstacles, representing a reversal of previous hostility and official mandate to leave the sacred project unhindered. This reflects a significant turning point brought about by divine orchestration working through an earthly king.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now therefore, Tattenai... and your associates... who are in the region Beyond the River,": This extended address establishes the binding nature of the command by meticulously listing all the implicated parties within their geographical and administrative sphere. It highlights Darius's thoroughness and determination to prevent any future obstructions from the precise source of previous interference. It is a specific and targeted directive, leaving no room for misunderstanding or evasion by the Persian bureaucracy.
• "keep yourselves far from there.": This concise imperative stands as the pivotal command. It mandates not merely inaction, but a complete withdrawal and distancing from the area of the temple's reconstruction. This directive transforms previous opposition into enforced non-interference, reflecting the Persian King's respect for a legally binding ancient decree and, more profoundly, the unseen hand of God guiding even pagan rulers to ensure the completion of His dwelling place. This legal order ensures that the opposition effectively removes themselves from the path of God's purpose.

Ezra 6 6 Bonus section

The Aramaic setting of Ezra 4:8 to 6:18 highlights the official nature of the communications between the Jewish community, the Persian officials, and the king. The shift from Hebrew to Aramaic in these chapters signals that these are direct transcripts or close renditions of official state documents. The detailed identification of the specific officials in Ezra 6:6 – Tattenai, Shethar-Bozenai, and their subordinates – confirms that Darius was responding precisely to the individuals who had challenged the temple's rebuilding (Ezra 5:3). This detail validates the biblical account against historical and administrative backdrops. The command to "keep yourselves far from there" is a striking example of legal protection granted from an unexpected source, ensuring the safe prosecution of a divinely mandated project, and stands in stark contrast to previous imperial orders that had brought the work to a halt. It also implicitly underscores that direct interference from such officials, if continued, would constitute direct disobedience to the Great King, incurring severe penalties.

Ezra 6 6 Commentary

Ezra 6:6 is a pivotal verse in the post-exilic history of Israel, marking a decisive shift from antagonism to official non-interference regarding the temple's reconstruction. Darius's directive to Tattenai and his officials, "keep yourselves far from there," encapsulates the king's unequivocal command for them to cease their obstructionist activities and withdraw completely from the Jerusalem building project. This was not a suggestion but a royal decree, backed by the full authority of the Persian Empire. The meticulous identification of Tattenai, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates underscores that no official involved in the prior attempts to hinder the work was exempt from this new order.

This command demonstrates the power of divine providence working through the secular authority. God's hand orchestrated the discovery of Cyrus's original decree (Ezra 6:1-5), compelling Darius to reverse the stance of his regional officials. The Persian system, built on legal precedent and centralized authority, inadvertently became a tool for the advancement of God's will. The very individuals who sought to halt the work are now legally bound to "keep far" from it, preventing them from hindering the temple construction further. This decree set the stage for not just allowing the rebuilding but actively protecting it and subsequently commanding its support (Ezra 6:8). The immediate, practical implication was the removal of hostile surveillance and interference from the Jewish builders, allowing them to proceed with confidence under royal protection. This verse exemplifies how obstacles to God's work can be moved, sometimes remarkably, through unexpected channels, emphasizing that no earthly power can ultimately thwart His plans for His people.