Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” New Living Translation But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?” English Standard Version At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” Berean Standard Bible 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?” King James Bible 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? New King James Version At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?” New American Standard Bible At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them as follows: “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” NASB 1995 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” NASB 1977 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” Legacy Standard Bible At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this house and to complete this structure?” Amplified Bible At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province on the west side of the [Euphrates] River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and said, “Who issued you a decree and authorized you to rebuild this temple and to restore this wall (shrine)?” Christian Standard Bible At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues came to the Jews and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues came to the Jews and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?” American Standard Version 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? Contemporary English Version Governor Tattenai of Western Province and his assistant Shethar Bozenai got together with some of their officials. Then they went to Jerusalem and said to the people, "Who told you to rebuild this temple? English Revised Version At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the river, and Shethar-bonzenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? GOD'S WORD® Translation At the same time, Governor Tattenai [from the province] west of the Euphrates River, Shethar Bozenai, and their group went to the Jews and asked them, "Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and finish its walls?" Good News Translation Almost at once Governor Tattenai of West-of-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their fellow officials came to Jerusalem and demanded: "Who gave you orders to build this Temple and equip it?" International Standard Version Right about then, Trans-Euphrates Governor Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues approached and challenged them. They asked, "Who authorized you to build this Temple and to reconstruct this wall?" Majority Standard Bible 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?? NET Bible At that time Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, "Who gave you authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?" New Heart English Bible At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?" Webster's Bible Translation At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? World English Bible At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAt that time have come to them Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and thus they are saying to them, “Who has made for you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?” Young's Literal Translation At that time come to them hath Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and thus they are saying to them, 'Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?' Smith's Literal Translation In that time came to them Tatnai, prefect beyond the river, and Shethar-Bozni and their colleagues, and thus they said to them, Who set up to you a decree to build this house, and to complete this wall? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd at the same time came to them Thathanai, who was governor beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and their counsellors: and said thus to them: Who hath given you counsel to build this house, and to repair the walls thereof? Catholic Public Domain Version Then, at the same time, Tattenai, who was the governor beyond the river, and Shetharbozenai, and their counselors came to them. And they spoke in this way to them: “Who has given you counsel, so that you would build this house and repair its walls?” New American Bible At that time Tattenai, governor of West-of-Euphrates, came to them, along with Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials, and asked of them: “Who issued the decree for you to build this house and complete this edifice? New Revised Standard Version At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAt that very time came against them Tatnai, the governor on this side the River, and Ashtanbozan and their companions, and said thus to them and to the rest of the people: Who has commanded you to build this house and to erect this wall? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But at that time Tatni, Ruler of the Crossing of the River, came against them, and Ashtanbuzan and those who were their equals, and thus they were saying to them and to the rest: “Who commanded you to build this house and erect this wall?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917At 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 structure?' Brenton Septuagint Translation At the same time came there upon them Thanthanai, the governor on this side the river, and Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants, and spoke thus to them, Who has ordained a decree for you to build this house, and to provide this preparation? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Temple Rebuilding Resumes…2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them. 3 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?” 4They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”… Cross References Nehemiah 2:19-20 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” / So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.” Haggai 1:1-2 In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating / that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’” Zechariah 4:6-9 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. / What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” / Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ... Ezra 4:1-5 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, / they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” / But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.” ... Nehemiah 4:1-3 Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews / before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” / Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!” Daniel 6:4-5 Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. / Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” Acts 4:5-7 The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, / along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. / They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Acts 5:27-29 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. / “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” / But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, Matthew 21:23-27 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?” / “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. / What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ... Acts 7:1-2 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” / And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, Nehemiah 6:1-9 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— / Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. / So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?” ... 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: / “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’” Isaiah 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’” Isaiah 45:1-4 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: / “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. / I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. ... Treasury of Scripture At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus to them, Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? Ezra 5:6 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: Ezra 6:6,13 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: … Ezra 7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, Who hath commanded you Ezra 5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? Ezra 1:3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? Jump to Previous Ai Associates Authorized Build Colleagues Commanded Companions Complete Decree Finish Governor House Issued Orders Province Rebuild Restore River Ruler Shetharbozenai Shethar-Bozenai She'thar-Boz'enai Shetharboznai Shethar-Boznai Side Structure Tatnai Tattenai Tat'tenai Temple Time Trans-Euphrates WallJump to Next Ai Associates Authorized Build Colleagues Commanded Companions Complete Decree Finish Governor House Issued Orders Province Rebuild Restore River Ruler Shetharbozenai Shethar-Bozenai She'thar-Boz'enai Shetharboznai Shethar-Boznai Side Structure Tatnai Tattenai Tat'tenai Temple Time Trans-Euphrates WallEzra 5 1. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building3. Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews 6. Their letter to Darius against the Jews At that time This phrase situates the events within a specific historical context. The time referred to is during the reign of King Darius of Persia, around 520 BC. This was a period when the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem and were in the process of rebuilding the temple, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. 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?” Persons / Places / Events 1. Tattenai- The governor of the region beyond the River, who questioned the Jews about their authority to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. 2. Shethar-bozenai - An official who accompanied Tattenai in questioning the Jews. 3. The Jews in Jerusalem - The group of exiles who had returned to Jerusalem and were rebuilding the temple. 4. The Temple in Jerusalem - The central place of worship for the Jewish people, which was being rebuilt after the Babylonian exile. 5. The Province Beyond the River - A Persian administrative region that included Judah and Jerusalem. Teaching Points Authority and ObedienceThe Jews were questioned about their authority to rebuild the temple. This challenges us to consider the authority under which we operate in our spiritual endeavors. Are we acting under God's direction and authority? Facing Opposition Just as the Jews faced opposition from Tattenai and others, Christians today may face challenges when following God's commands. We must remain steadfast and trust in God's provision and protection. God's Sovereignty Despite the questioning and potential for conflict, God's plan for the temple's reconstruction was not thwarted. This reminds us of God's ultimate control over circumstances and His faithfulness to His promises. Community and Leadership The involvement of leaders like Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai highlights the importance of leadership in both secular and religious contexts. We should pray for and support godly leaders who seek to follow God's will. Historical Context and Faithfulness Understanding the historical context of the Jews' return from exile and their efforts to rebuild the temple can deepen our appreciation for their faithfulness and perseverance, encouraging us to remain faithful in our own spiritual journeys.(3-17) Tatnai's appeal to Darius. (3) Tatnai, governor on this side the river.--Satrap, or Pechah, of the entire province of Syria and Ph?nicia, and therefore with a jurisdiction over Judaea, and over Zerubbabel its Pechah or sub-Satrap. What Shimshai was to the Samaritan Pechah, Rehum, Shethar-boznai seems to be to Tatnai--his secretary. Who hath commanded you?--It is obvious that the overthrow of Smerdis, the Magian hater of Zoroastrianism and destroyer of temples, had encouraged the builders to go on without fearing molestation from the Court of Darius. Moreover, the two prophets had made their duty too plain to be deferred. Still, the decree of the preceding chapter had never been expressly revoked. Verse 3. - Tatnai, governor on this side the river. The title given to Tatnai is the same which is assigned to Zerubbabel, both in Ezra 6:7 and in Haggai (Haggai 1:1, 14, etc.), viz., pechah, which is a somewhat vague term of authority, translated sometimes "captain" (1 Kings 20:24; Daniel 3:2, 3, etc.), sometimes "deputy (Esther 8:9; Esther 9:3), but generally, as here, "governor." The etymology is uncertain, but seems not to be Semitic (see Pusey's 'Daniel,' pp. 570-572). The respective rank of Tatnai and Zerub-babel is indicated, not by this term, but by what follows it. Tatnai was pechah "beyond the river," i.e. governor of the whole tract west of the Euphrates; Zerubbabel was pechah of Judah only. A Greek writer would have called the one "satrap of Syria," the other "sub-satrap of Judaea." It was the duty of Tatuai to watch the proceedings of his sub-satraps.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew At that timeזִמְנָא֩ (zim·nā) Noun - masculine singular determinate Strong's 2166: An appointed occasion Tattenai תַּ֠תְּנַי (tat·tə·nay) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8674: Tattenai the governor פַּחַ֧ת (pa·ḥaṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6347: A governor of the region west עֲבַֽר־ (‘ă·ḇar-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5675: A region across, on the opposite side of the Euphrates, נַהֲרָ֛ה (na·hă·rāh) Noun - masculine singular determinate Strong's 5103: A river, the Euphrates Shethar-bozenai, בּוֹזְנַ֖י (bō·wz·nay) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8370: Shethar-bozenai -- a person official and their associates וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן (ū·ḵə·nā·wā·ṯə·hō·wn) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3675: An associate went אֲתָ֨א (’ă·ṯā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 858: To arrive to עֲלֵיה֜וֹן (‘ă·lê·hō·wn) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against the Jews and asked, אָמְרִ֣ין (’ā·mə·rîn) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 560: To say, tell, command “Who מַן־ (man-) Interrogative Strong's 4479: Who, what authorized you שָׂ֨ם (śām) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7761: To set, make to rebuild לִבְּנֵ֔א (lib·bə·nê) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1124: To build this דְנָה֙ (ḏə·nāh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 1836: This temple בַּיְתָ֤א (bay·ṯā) Noun - masculine singular determinate Strong's 1005: A house and restore לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ (lə·šaḵ·lā·lāh) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 3635: To complete this דְנָ֖ה (ḏə·nāh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 1836: This structure?” וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א (wə·’uš·šar·nā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular determinate Strong's 846: Perhaps a wall Links Ezra 5:3 NIVEzra 5:3 NLT Ezra 5:3 ESV Ezra 5:3 NASB Ezra 5:3 KJV Ezra 5:3 BibleApps.com Ezra 5:3 Biblia Paralela Ezra 5:3 Chinese Bible Ezra 5:3 French Bible Ezra 5:3 Catholic Bible OT History: Ezra 5:3 At the same time came to them (Ezr. 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