Ezra 5:9 We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?"

◄ Ezra 5:9 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?"

English Standard Version
Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: ‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’

New American Standard Bible
"Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, 'Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?'

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So we questioned the elders and asked, "Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?"

International Standard Version
We asked the elders, "Who authorized you to build this Temple and to reinforce these walls?"

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

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

Darby Bible Translation
Then asked we those elders: thus we said to them, Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete 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?

Cross References

Ezra 4:12
Be it known to the king, that the Jews which came up from you to us are come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

Ezra 5:3
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 5:8
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.

Ezra 5:10
We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

5:3-17 While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discouraging. The elders of the Jews gave the Samaritans an account of their proceedings. Let us learn hence, with meekness and fear, to give a reason of the hope that is in us; let us rightly understand, and then readily declare, what we do in God's service, and why we do it. And while in this world, we always shall have to confess, that our sins have provoked the wrath of God. All our sufferings spring from thence, and all our comforts from his unmerited mercy. However the work may seem to be hindered, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is carrying it on, his people are growing unto a holy temple in the Lord, for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones—literally, "stones of rolling"; that is, stones of such extraordinary size that they could not be carried—they had to be rolled or dragged along the ground.