Ezra 5:3-6
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? | At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?” | At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? |
| 4 | Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? | They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?” | Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building. |
| 5 | But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. | But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned. | But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. |
| 6 | The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: | This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius. | The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king; |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Where
- Beyond the River regionMapAbout this place
- Jerusalem settlementMapAbout this place
- Euphrates riverMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Aramaic words
This passage was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, which the Jews of the exile also spoke. It uses the same alphabet as Hebrew.
Verse 3
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| time the | זִמְנָא֩ | zim-NA' | H2166 | timeזְמַן (ze.man) a set time, time, season Aramaic of ze.man (זְמָ֑ן "time" H2165) |
| he came | אֲתָ֨א | 'a-TA' | H0858 | to comeאֲתָה (a.tah) 1) to come, arrive 1a) (P'al) to come 1b) (Aphel) to bring 1c) (Hophal) to be brought 2) used in the NT in the phrase "maranatha" -"Lord come" Aramaic of a.tah (אָתָה "to come" H0857) |
| to them | עֲלֵיה֜וֹן | a-lei-HON | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| Tattenai | תַּ֠תְּנַי | TA-te-nai | H8674 | Tattenaiתַּתְּנַי (ta.te.nay) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.5.3 § Tatnai = "gift" a Persian governor in Syria who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem |
| [the] governor of | פַּחַ֧ת | pa-CHAT | H6347 | governorפֶּחָה (pe.chah) governor Aramaic of pe.chah (פֶּחָה "governor" H6346) |
| [the] region beyond | עֲבַֽר־ | 'a-var- | H5675 | beyondעֲבַר (a.var) region beyond or across Aramaic of e.ver (עֵ֫בֶר ": side" H5676) |
| river the | נַהֲרָ֛ה | na-ha-RAH' | H5103G | Riverנְהַר (ne.har) The River Aramaic of pe.rat (פְּרָת "Euphrates" H6578) |
| and Shethar- | וּשְׁתַ֥ר | u-she-TAR | H8370 | Shethar-bozenaiשְׁתַר בּוֹזְנַי (she.tar bo.ze.nay) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.5.3 § Shethar-boznai = "star of splendour" a Persian officer in the reign of Darius |
| Bozenai | בּוֹזְנַ֖י | boz-NAI | H8370 | Shethar-bozenaiשְׁתַר בּוֹזְנַי (she.tar bo.ze.nay) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.5.3 § Shethar-boznai = "star of splendour" a Persian officer in the reign of Darius |
| and associates their | וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן | u-khe-na-va-te-HON | H3675 | associateכְּנָת (ke.nat) companion, associate Aramaic of ke.nat (כְּנָת "associate" H3674) |
| and as follows | וְכֵן֙ | ve-KHEN | H3652 | thusכֵּן (ken) thus, so, as follows Aramaic of ken (כֵּן "so" H3651C) |
| [they were] saying | אָמְרִ֣ין | 'a-me-RIN | H0560 | to sayאֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559) |
| who? | מַן־ | man- | H4479 | who?מָן (man) who?, what?, whoever, whosoever Aramaic of mah (מָה "what?" H4100) |
| did he make | שָׂ֨ם | sam | H7761G | to set: makeשׂוּם (sum) 1) to set, make, appoint 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to make, make decree, setout (decree) 1a2) to make, appoint 1a3) to set, fix 1b) (Ithp'al) to be made, be set, be laid |
| a decree | טְעֵ֗ם | te-'EM | H2942 | commandטְעֵם (te.em) 1) report, taste 1a) taste 1b) report |
| house the | בַּיְתָ֤א | bay-TA' | H1005 | houseבַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) 1) house (of men) 2) house (of God) |
| this | דְנָה֙ | de-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
| to build | לִבְּנֵ֔א | li-be-NE' | H1124 | to buildבְּנָה (be.nah) 1) to build 1a) (P'al) to build 1b) (Ithp'il) to be built |
| and structure the | וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א | ve-'u-shar-NA' | H0846 | wallאֻשַּׁרְנָא (ush.shar.na) wall, panelling, beams, structure (precise meaning and derivation uncertain) Aramaic of shur (שׁוּר "wall" H7791A) |
| this | דְנָ֖ה | de-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
| to finish | לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ ס | le-shakh-la-LAH | H3635A | to completeכְּלַל (ke.lal) 1) to finish, complete 1a) (Shaphel) to finish 1b) (Ishtaphel) to be completed |
Verse 4
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| then | אֱדַ֥יִן | 'e-DA-yin | H0116 | thenאֱדַ֫יִן (e.da.yin) then, afterwards, thereupon, from that time Aramaic of az (אָז "then" H0227A) |
| as follows | כְּנֵ֖מָא | ke-NE-ma' | H3660 | thusכְּנֵ֫מָא (ke.ne.ma) thus, so, accordingly, as follows |
| we said | אֲמַ֣רְנָא | 'a-MAR-na' | H0560 | to sayאֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559) |
| what? | מַן־ | man- | H4479 | who?מָן (man) who?, what?, whoever, whosoever Aramaic of mah (מָה "what?" H4100) |
| [are] they | אִנּוּן֙ | 'i-NUN | H0581A | theyאִנּוּן (in.nun) these, those, they Aramaic of hem.mah (הֵ֫מָּה "they(masc.)" H1992) |
| [the] names of | שְׁמָהָ֣ת | she-ma-HAT | H8036 | nameשֻׁם (shum) name Aramaic of shem (שֵׁם "name" H8034) |
| men the | גֻּבְרַיָּ֔א | guv-rai-YA' | H1400 | manגְּבַר (ge.var) a man, a certain (one) Aramaic of ge.ver (גֶּ֫בֶר "great man" H1397) |
| who | דִּֽי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| this | דְנָ֥ה | de-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
| building the | בִנְיָנָ֖א | vin-ya-NA' | H1147 | buildingבִּנְיָן (bin.yan) a building, structure Aramaic of bin.yan (בִּנְיָן "building" H1146) |
| [are] building | בָּנַֽיִן׃ | ba-NA-yin | H1124 | to buildבְּנָה (be.nah) 1) to build 1a) (P'al) to build 1b) (Ithp'il) to be built |
Verse 5
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and [the] eye of | וְעֵ֣ין | ve-'EIN | H5870 | eyeעַ֫יִן (a.yin) eye Aramaic of a.yin (עַ֫יִן ": eye" H5869A) |
| God their | אֱלָהֲהֹ֗ם | 'e-la-ha-HOM | H0426 | godאֱלָהּ (e.lah) 1) god, God 1a) god, heathen deity 1b) God (of Israel) |
| it was | הֲוָת֙ | ha-VAT | H1934 | to beהֲוָא (ha.va) 1) to come to pass, become, be 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to come to pass 1a2) to come into being, arise, become, come to be 1a2a) to let become known (with participle of knowing) 1a3) to be |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| [the] elders of | שָׂבֵ֣י | sa-VEI | H7868 | be grayשִׂיב (siv) 1) to be gray, be hoary, be hoary-headed 1a) (P'al) elders (subst) |
| Jews the | יְהוּדָיֵ֔א | ye-hu-da-YE' | H3062 | Jewיְהוּדַי (ye.hu.da.i) Someone descended from Judah (H3063) and possibly other tribes, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.25 Aramaic of ye.hu.di (יְהוּדִי "Jew" H3064) |
| and not | וְלָא־ | ve-la'- | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| they made cease | בַטִּ֣לוּ | va-TI-lu | H0989 | to ceaseבְּטֵל (be.tel) 1) (P'al) to cease 1a) to cease 1b) to make to cease |
| them | הִמּ֔וֹ | hi-MO | H1994 | theyהִמּוֹ (him.mo) 1) they, them 1a) they (subject) 1b) them (object) |
| until | עַד־ | 'ad- | H5705 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) even to, until, up to, during conj 2) until, up to the time that, ere that |
| report the | טַעְמָ֖א | ta'-MA' | H2941 | accountטְעֵם (ta.am) judgment, command, discretion Aramaic of ta.am (טַ֫עַם "taste" H2940) |
| to Darius | לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ | le-da-re-YA-vesh | H1868G | Dariusדָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ (dar.ya.vesh) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.4.5 Aramaic of dar.ya.vesh (דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ "Darius" H1867H) § Darius = "lord" 1) Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, king of the Chaldeans, who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom on the death of Belshazzar; probably the same as "Astyages" the last king of the Medes (538 BC) (same as dar.ya.vesh (דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ "Darius" H1867) (1)) 2) Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC) (same as (2)) 3) Darius II or Darius III … |
| it will come | יְהָ֑ךְ | ye-HAKH | H1946 | to goהוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980) |
| and then | וֶאֱדַ֛יִן | ve-'e-DA-yin | H0116 | thenאֱדַ֫יִן (e.da.yin) then, afterwards, thereupon, from that time Aramaic of az (אָז "then" H0227A) |
| they will send back | יְתִיב֥וּן | ye-ti-VUN | H8421I | to return: returnתּוּב (tuv) : return 1) to return, come back 1a) (P'al) to return, come back 1b) (Aphel) 1b1) to restore, give back, answer 1b2) to return |
| letter the | נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֖א | nish-te-va-NA' | H5407 | documentנִשְׁתְּוָן (nish.te.van) letter Aramaic of nish.te.van (נִשְׁתְּוָן "letter" H5406) |
| concerning | עַל־ | 'al- | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| this | דְּנָֽה׃ פ | de-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
Verse 6
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the copy of | פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן | par-SHE-gen | H6573 | copyפַּרְשֶׁ֫גֶן (par.she.gen) copy Aramaic of pat.she.gen (פַּתְשֶׁ֫גֶן "copy" H6572B) |
| letter the | אִ֠גַּרְתָּא | 'I-gar-ta' | H0104 | letterאִגְּרָא (ig.g.ra) letter, missive (Aramaic loan-word used in last OT books) Aramaic of ig.ge.ret (אִגֶּ֫רֶת "letter" H0107) |
| which | דִּֽי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| he sent | שְׁלַ֞ח | she-LACH | H7972 | to sendשְׁלַח (she.lach) 1) to send 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to send, send out 1a2) to be sent |
| Tattenai | תַּתְּנַ֣י׀ | ta-te-NAI | H8674 | Tattenaiתַּתְּנַי (ta.te.nay) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.5.3 § Tatnai = "gift" a Persian governor in Syria who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem |
| [the] governor of | פַּחַ֣ת | pa-CHAT | H6347 | governorפֶּחָה (pe.chah) governor Aramaic of pe.chah (פֶּחָה "governor" H6346) |
| [the] region beyond | עֲבַֽר־ | 'a-var- | H5675 | beyondעֲבַר (a.var) region beyond or across Aramaic of e.ver (עֵ֫בֶר ": side" H5676) |
| river the | נַהֲרָ֗ה | na-ha-RAH' | H5103G | Riverנְהַר (ne.har) The River Aramaic of pe.rat (פְּרָת "Euphrates" H6578) |
| and Shethar- | וּשְׁתַ֤ר | u-she-TAR | H8370 | Shethar-bozenaiשְׁתַר בּוֹזְנַי (she.tar bo.ze.nay) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.5.3 § Shethar-boznai = "star of splendour" a Persian officer in the reign of Darius |
| Bozenai | בּוֹזְנַי֙ | boz-NAI | H8370 | Shethar-bozenaiשְׁתַר בּוֹזְנַי (she.tar bo.ze.nay) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.5.3 § Shethar-boznai = "star of splendour" a Persian officer in the reign of Darius |
| and associates his | וּכְנָ֣וָתֵ֔הּ | u-khe-NA-va-TEH | H3675 | associateכְּנָת (ke.nat) companion, associate Aramaic of ke.nat (כְּנָת "associate" H3674) |
| officials the | אֲפַ֨רְסְכָיֵ֔א | 'a-FAR-se-kha-YE' | H0671A | governorsאֲפָֽרְסְכָיֵא (a.phar.se.khay) Apharsachites = "as causers of division (?)" Apharsathchites = "I will divide the deceivers (?)" 1) (CLBL) an unknown office 2) (BDB) perhaps an office or an official 3) (TWOT) 3a) a people 3b) perhaps a title of an official Also named: a.phar.sat.te.khay (אֲפָֽרְסַתְּכָיֵא "govenors" H0671B) |
| who | דִּ֖י | di | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| [were] in [the] region beyond | בַּעֲבַ֣ר | ba-'a-VAR | H5675 | beyondעֲבַר (a.var) region beyond or across Aramaic of e.ver (עֵ֫בֶר ": side" H5676) |
| river the | נַהֲרָ֑ה | na-ha-RAH' | H5103G | Riverנְהַר (ne.har) The River Aramaic of pe.rat (פְּרָת "Euphrates" H6578) |
| to | עַל־ | 'al- | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| Darius | דָּרְיָ֖וֶשׁ | da-re-YA-vesh | H1868G | Dariusדָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ (dar.ya.vesh) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.4.5 Aramaic of dar.ya.vesh (דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ "Darius" H1867H) § Darius = "lord" 1) Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, king of the Chaldeans, who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom on the death of Belshazzar; probably the same as "Astyages" the last king of the Medes (538 BC) (same as dar.ya.vesh (דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ "Darius" H1867) (1)) 2) Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC) (same as (2)) 3) Darius II or Darius III … |
| king the | מַלְכָּֽא׃ | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.