Ezra 5:3
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?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
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?”

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?

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?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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?

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?"

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 structure?'

Literal Standard Version
At 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?”

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?”

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?

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 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?”

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?”

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?'

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
Ezra 1:3
Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 4:12
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.

Ezra 5:6
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.

Ezra 5:9
So we questioned the elders and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?"

Ezra 6:6
Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!

Ezra 6:13
In response, Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed.

Haggai 1:1
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


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?

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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 Wall
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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 Wall
Ezra 5
1. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building
3. Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews
6. Their letter to Darius against the Jews














(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 time
זִמְנָא֩ (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


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OT History: Ezra 5:3 At the same time came to them (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 5:2
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