Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction. New Living Translation “The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success. English Standard Version Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. Berean Standard Bible Let 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. King James Bible Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. New King James Version Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the temple of the great God, which is being built with heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. New American Standard Bible May it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God which is being built with large stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is being performed with great care and is succeeding in their hands. NASB 1995 “Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands. NASB 1977 “Let it be known to the king, that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands. Legacy Standard Bible Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and it is being built with huge stones, and timber is being put within the walls; and that work is going on with all diligence and is succeeding in their hands. Amplified Bible Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, with beams laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and care and is succeeding in their hands. Christian Standard Bible Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts. Holman Christian Standard Bible Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts. American Standard Version Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands. Contemporary English Version We went to Judah, where the temple of the great God is being built with huge stones and wooden beams set in the walls. Everyone is working hard, and the building is going up quickly. English Revised Version Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands. GOD'S WORD® Translation Your Majesty should know that we went to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The temple is being built with large stones and with wooden beams laid in its walls. The builders are doing an excellent job and making rapid progress. Good News Translation "Your Majesty should know that we went to the province of Judah and found that the Temple of the great God is being rebuilt with large stone blocks and with wooden beams set in the wall. The work is being done with great care and is moving ahead steadily. International Standard Version This is to inform the king that we traveled to the Temple of the great God in the Judean province, which is being built with large stones and reinforced with wooden beams in its walls. The work proceeds diligently and is in capable hands. Majority Standard Bible Let 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. NET Bible Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands. New Heart English Bible Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. Webster's Bible Translation Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work proceedeth rapidly, and prospereth in their hands. World English Bible Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“To Darius the king, all peace! Be it known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the great house of God, and it is built [with] rolled stones, and wood is placed in the walls, and this work is done speedily, and prospering in their hand. Young's Literal Translation To Darius the king, all peace! be it known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the great house of God, and it is built with rolled stones, and wood is placed in the walls, and this work is done speedily, and prospering in their hand. Smith's Literal Translation To be known to the king that we went to the Judah province, to the house of the great God; and it was building with stone of rolling, and wood being set up in the walls; and this work being diligently done, and prospering in their hands. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBe it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which they are building with unpolished stones, and timber is laid in the walls: and this work is carried on diligently, and advanceth in their hands. Catholic Public Domain Version Let it be known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which they are building with rough stones, and with timber set into the walls. And this work is being built up diligently, and it increases by their hands. New American Bible Let it be known to the king that we have visited the province of Judah and the house of the great God: it is being rebuilt of cut stone and the walls are being reinforced with timber; the work is being carried out diligently, prospering under their hands. New Revised Standard Version May it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built of hewn stone, and timber is laid in the walls; this work is being done diligently and prospers in their hands. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBe it known to the king that we went to Judea, to the city of the great God, which is being built with large stones, and much timber is laid in the walls; great works are wrought there, and a great enterprise is prospering in their hands. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But let the King know that we go to Judea to the city of the great God, and she is being built with great stones and many acacia wood beams were bound in its walls, and a great work is done there, and a great work is going up and is progressing to the summit by their hands. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands. Brenton Septuagint Translation Be it known to the king, that we went into the land of Judea, to the house of the great God; and it is building with choice stones, and they are laying timbers in the walls, and that work is prospering, and goes on favorably in their hands. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Tattenai's Letter to Darius…7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace. 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?”… Cross References Ezra 1:2-4 “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 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. / And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’” Haggai 1:14 So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God, Zechariah 4:9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. Ezra 6:14 So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. Nehemiah 2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. 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 45:13 I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.” Daniel 6:25-28 Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound. / I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. / He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” ... 1 Kings 6:1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD. 1 Kings 6:37-38 The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Ziv. / In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years. Acts 7:47-50 But it was Solomon who built the house for Him. / However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? ... John 2:19-21 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body. Matthew 24:1-2 As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. / “Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Mark 13:1-2 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” / “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Treasury of Scripture Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands. the province Ezra 2:1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; Nehemiah 7:6 These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; Nehemiah 11:3 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. the great God Ezra 1:2,3 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah… Ezra 6:10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. Ezra 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? great stones. Mark 13:1,2 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! … Jump to Previous Beams Builded Built Diligence Fast Goes Great Hands House Huge Judah Judea Laid Proceedeth Prospereth Prospers Province Rapidly Stones Timber Walls WorkJump to Next Beams Builded Built Diligence Fast Goes Great Hands House Huge Judah Judea Laid Proceedeth Prospereth Prospers Province Rapidly Stones Timber Walls WorkEzra 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 Let it be known to the king This phrase indicates the formal communication to the Persian king, likely Darius I, about the activities in Judah. It reflects the bureaucratic processes of the Persian Empire, where local governors and officials reported to the central authority. This communication underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in governance, a principle that can be seen throughout biblical narratives. 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 Persons / Places / Events 1. The KingRefers to King Darius of Persia, who was ruling during the time of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. 2. The House of the Great God This is the temple in Jerusalem, which the Jewish exiles were rebuilding after their return from Babylonian captivity. 3. The Province of Judah The region where Jerusalem is located, under Persian rule at the time. 4. Large Stones and Timbers Materials used in the construction of the temple, indicating the scale and seriousness of the project. 5. Diligence and Prosperity Describes the manner and success with which the Jewish people were undertaking the rebuilding project. Teaching Points Diligence in God's WorkThe rebuilding of the temple was carried out with diligence. As believers, we are called to work diligently in whatever God has set before us, trusting that He will prosper our efforts. God's Sovereignty in Restoration The successful rebuilding of the temple, despite opposition, demonstrates God's sovereignty and faithfulness in restoring His people. We can trust God to restore and rebuild areas of our lives that have been broken. The Importance of Worship The temple was central to Jewish worship. This reminds us of the importance of worship in our lives and the need to prioritize our relationship with God. Community Effort in God's Mission The rebuilding was a collective effort. In the body of Christ, we are called to work together, supporting one another in fulfilling God's mission.(8) To the house of the great God.--A solemn tribute to the God of the Jews, which, however, the decree of Cyrus enables us to understand in this official document. Tatnai probably dwelt at Damascus, and when he went to Jerusalem was deeply impressed. But he only gives a statement of the progress which he observed in the Temple. "The walls here are the walls within the Temple, not the city walls.Verse 8. - We went into the province of Judaea. It has been supposed (Pusey's 'Daniel,' p. 571), on the strength of a doubtful passage in Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:7), that Tatnai ordinarily resided at Jernsalem. But this expression indicates the contrary. Most probably the satrap of Syria held his court at Damascus. The house of the great God is a remarkable expression in the mouth of a heathen. It has some parallels, e.g. the expressions of Cyrus in Ezra 1:2, 3, and of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:47 and Daniel 3:29; but they were persons who had been brought to the knowledge that Jehovah was the one true God, under very peculiar and miraculous circumstances. Tatnai, on the other hand, represents the mere ordinary Persian official; and his acknowledgment of the God of the Jews as "the great God" must be held to indicate the general belief of the Persians on the subject (see the comment on Ezra 1:2). Which is builded. Rather, "being builded." With great stones. Literally, "stones of rolling," which is commonly explained as stones so large that they had to be rolled along the ground. But the squared stones used in building neither were, nor could be, rolled; they are always represented as dragged, generally on a rough sledge. And it is not at all probable that in the "day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10) the Jews were building with very large stones. The LXX. translate "choice stones;" the Vulgate "unpolished" or "rough stone." Some of the Jewish expositors suggest "marble." And timber is laid. A good deal of timber had been employed in the old temple, but chiefly for the floors of chambers (1 Kings 6:10), for the internal lining of the walls (ibid. vers. 9, 15), and probably for the roofing. In the new temple, timber seems to have been employed also as the main material of the party-walls. Here again we have a trace of the economy necessary in the "day of small things." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Let it beלֶהֱוֵ֣א (le·hĕ·wê) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1934: To become, come to pass, be known יְדִ֣יעַ ׀ (yə·ḏî·a‘) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Strong's 3046: To know to the king לְמַלְכָּ֗א (lə·mal·kā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular determinate Strong's 4430: A king that דִּֽי־ (dî-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because we went אֲזַ֜לְנָא (’ă·zal·nā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural Strong's 236: To go, go off into the province מְדִֽינְתָּא֙ (mə·ḏî·nə·tā) Noun - feminine singular determinate Strong's 4083: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region of Judah, לִיה֤וּד (lî·hūḏ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3061: Judah -- the southern kingdom, named for one of the twelve tribes to the house לְבֵית֙ (lə·ḇêṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1005: A house of the great רַבָּ֔א (rab·bā) Adjective - masculine singular determinate Strong's 7229: Abundant God. אֱלָהָ֣א (’ĕ·lā·hā) Noun - masculine singular determinate Strong's 426: God [The people] וְה֤וּא (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1932: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are are rebuilding it מִתְבְּנֵא֙ (miṯ·bə·nê) Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1124: To build with large stones, אֶ֣בֶן (’e·ḇen) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 69: A stone and placing מִתְּשָׂ֣ם (mit·tə·śām) Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7761: To set, make timbers וְאָ֖ע (wə·’ā‘) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 636: A tree, wood in the walls. בְּכֻתְלַיָּ֑א (bə·ḵuṯ·lay·yā) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural determinate Strong's 3797: A wall This דָ֛ךְ (ḏāḵ) Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 1791: This work וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא (wa·‘ă·ḇî·ḏə·tā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular determinate Strong's 5673: Labor, business is being carried out מִתְעַבְדָ֖א (miṯ·‘aḇ·ḏā) Verb - Hitpael - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 5648: To do, make, prepare, keep diligently אָסְפַּ֥רְנָא (’ā·sə·par·nā) Adverb Strong's 629: Thoroughly, with (all) diligence and is prospering וּמַצְלַ֥ח (ū·maṣ·laḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6744: To advance in their hands. בְּיֶדְהֹֽם׃ (bə·yeḏ·hōm) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3028: A hand Links Ezra 5:8 NIVEzra 5:8 NLT Ezra 5:8 ESV Ezra 5:8 NASB Ezra 5:8 KJV Ezra 5:8 BibleApps.com Ezra 5:8 Biblia Paralela Ezra 5:8 Chinese Bible Ezra 5:8 French Bible Ezra 5:8 Catholic Bible OT History: Ezra 5:8 Be it known to the king that (Ezr. 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