Ezra 5:9

Verse

So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

American Standard Version (1901)

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

Bible in Basic English

Then we said to the men responsible, who gave you authority for the building of this house and these walls?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?

Free Bible Version

We questioned the leaders, asking them, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and finish it?’

Geneva Bible 1599

Then asked we those Elders, and sayd vnto them thus, Who hath giuen you commandement to buylde this house, and to lay the foundation of these walles?

King James (Authorized) Version

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

Translation for Translators

“We asked the Jewish leaders, ‘Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple and put furnishings in it?’

Unlocked Literal Bible

We asked the elders, 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and these walls?'

Noah Webster Bible

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to erect these walls?

World English Bible

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”

Young's Literal Translation

Then we have asked of these elders, thus we have said to them, Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?

Context

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

⁸Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones, and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.⁹So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

Summary

In Ezra 5:9, the Jewish leaders questioned the authority of the builders who were reconstructing the temple in Jerusalem. They sought clarification on who had authorized the rebuilding process and requested the names of those involved. This inquiry reflects the cautious approach of the Jewish leaders to ensure that the temple reconstruction was carried out in accordance with the proper legal and religious protocols. The leaders' diligence in verifying the legitimacy of the project demonstrates their commitment to upholding the sanctity of the temple and the purity of worship practices.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Hereupon the royal officials asked the elders of the Jews who had commanded them to build, and inquired concerning their names, that they might write to the king the names of the leading men (see the remark on 3 and 41). בראשׁהם דּי does not mean, who are at the head of them: but, who act in the capacity of heads.

Ezra 5:9

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

American Standard Version (1901)

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

Bible in Basic English

Then we said to the men responsible, who gave you authority for the building of this house and these walls?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?

Free Bible Version

We questioned the leaders, asking them, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and finish it?’

Geneva Bible 1599

Then asked we those Elders, and sayd vnto them thus, Who hath giuen you commandement to buylde this house, and to lay the foundation of these walles?

King James (Authorized) Version

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

Translation for Translators

“We asked the Jewish leaders, ‘Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple and put furnishings in it?’

Unlocked Literal Bible

We asked the elders, 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and these walls?'

Noah Webster Bible

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to erect these walls?

World English Bible

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”

Young's Literal Translation

Then we have asked of these elders, thus we have said to them, Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?

Ezra 5:9

Verse

Context

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

Summary

Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ezra 5:9

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary