Ezra 5:11 And this is the answer they returned: "We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

◄ Ezra 5:11 ►

New International Version
This is the answer they gave us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.

New Living Translation
“This was their answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel.

English Standard Version
And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Berean Standard Bible
And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

King James Bible
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

New King James Version
And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

New American Standard Bible
So they answered us as follows, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

NASB 1995
“Thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

NASB 1977
“And thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus they responded with a word to us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

Amplified Bible
They replied, ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the temple which was erected many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Christian Standard Bible
This is the reply they gave us: We are the servants of the God of the heavens and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is the reply they gave us: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

American Standard Version
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.

Contemporary English Version
They claimed to be servants of the God who rules heaven and earth. And they said they were rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago by one of Israel's greatest kings.

English Revised Version
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This was their reply to us: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple that was originally built many years ago by a great king of Israel.

Good News Translation
"They answered, 'We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple which was originally built and equipped many years ago by a powerful king of Israel.

International Standard Version
In answer they responded, "We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the Temple that was built many years ago by a great king of Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

NET Bible
They responded to us in the following way: 'We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king of Israel built it and completed it.

New Heart English Bible
Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was erected these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up.

World English Bible
Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And thus they have returned us word, saying, We [are] servants of the God of the heavens and earth, and are building the house that was built many years before this, that a great king of Israel built and finished:

Young's Literal Translation
And thus they have returned us word, saying, We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built many years before this, that a great king of Israel built and finished:

Smith's Literal Translation
And thus they returned us word, saying, We are the servants of the God of the heavens and the earth, and build the house that was built of old these many years, and a great king to Israel built and completed.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they answered us in these words, saying: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a temple that was built these many years ago, and which a great king of Israel built and set up.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then they responded a word to us in this manner, saying: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. And we are building the temple that was constructed these many years before, and which a great king of Israel had built and constructed.

New American Bible
This was their answer to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house built here many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

New Revised Standard Version
This was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And this was the reply they gave us, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and this house that we are rebuilding was built many years ago, and was completed by a king of Israel and his princes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And thus an answer was returned and they were saying to us: “We are the Servants of the God of Heaven and Earth, and the building of this house that we are building was built many years before of the Kings of Israel, and their Princes finished it.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And thus they returned us answer, saying: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they answered us thus, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house which had been built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it, and established it for them.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Tattenai's Letter to Darius
…10We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information. 11And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. 12But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 3:13-15
Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” / God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” / God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

1 Kings 18:36
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.

Nehemiah 2:20
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.”

Daniel 2:20-23
and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. / He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. / He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. ...

Acts 7:32
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

Genesis 32:9
Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’

2 Chronicles 36:23
“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.’”

Haggai 1:12
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD.

John 8:54
Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

Acts 24:14
I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Romans 9:4
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Treasury of Scripture

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up.

We are

Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Psalm 119:46
I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

which a great

1 Kings 6:1-7:51
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD…

2 Chronicles 3:1-5:14
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite…

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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

Berean Study Bible

This is the answer they gave us
This phrase introduces the response of the Jewish leaders to the Persian officials questioning their authority to rebuild the temple. The context is one of accountability and transparency. The Jewish leaders are not acting in secrecy but are willing to provide a clear answer. This reflects a principle of integrity and openness, which is a recurring theme in Scripture. The Hebrew root for "answer" (עָנָה, 'anah) often implies a thoughtful or considered response, suggesting that the leaders were prepared and confident in their mission.

We are the servants
The term "servants" (עֲבַד, 'avad) is significant, as it denotes humility and dedication. By identifying themselves as servants, the Jewish leaders acknowledge their subordinate position to God, emphasizing their role in fulfilling His divine will. This reflects a broader biblical theme where true leadership is often characterized by servanthood, as seen in the life of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45).

of the God of heaven and earth
This phrase establishes the authority and sovereignty of God over all creation. The title "God of heaven and earth" underscores His omnipotence and universal dominion, contrasting with the localized deities of surrounding nations. The acknowledgment of God as the supreme ruler serves as a reminder of His ultimate control over the affairs of men and nations. This is a powerful declaration of faith, asserting that their work is sanctioned by the highest authority.

and we are rebuilding the temple
The act of rebuilding the temple is not merely a construction project but a spiritual endeavor. The temple represents the presence of God among His people, a place of worship and sacrifice. The Hebrew word for "rebuilding" (בָּנָה, banah) conveys the idea of restoration and renewal. This task is a fulfillment of prophecy and a sign of God's faithfulness to His promises. It symbolizes hope and the re-establishment of a covenant relationship with God.

that was built many years ago
This phrase acknowledges the historical significance of the temple, originally constructed by Solomon. The reference to "many years ago" connects the current generation with their ancestors, highlighting continuity in God's plan. It serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of God's purposes and the importance of remembering and honoring the past while moving forward in faith.

which a great king of Israel built and completed
The "great king" refers to Solomon, whose reign was marked by wisdom and prosperity. His completion of the temple was a monumental achievement, symbolizing the zenith of Israel's spiritual and political power. The mention of Solomon's role in building the temple serves to inspire the current generation to aspire to similar faithfulness and dedication. It also underscores the idea that what God initiates, He brings to completion, encouraging believers to trust in His perfect timing and provision.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) And thus they returned us answer.--The elders of the Jews take the Syrian satrap into their confidence, and give, in a few most pathetic words the record of their national honour, their national infidelity, and their national humiliation. Every word is true to the history, while the whole exhibits their deep humility and holy resolution.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. Instead of doing as they were requested, and giving in a long list of names and titles of office, the elders merge their individuality in this general phrase; as though they would say, "As individuals, we are nothing; as men of mark in our nation, we are nothing; what we do, we do simply as servants of God, directed by him (Haggai 1:8), bound to obey him, answerable only to him for our conduct." They speak of God as "the God of heaven and earth" - a very rare title - partly in humble acknowledgment of his universal and absolute dominion, as Christians speak when they call God "the Maker of heaven and earth;" partly to impress favourably those to whom they speak, persons accustomed to regard God primarily as the Being who "gave mankind earth and heaven" (Rawlinson's 'Cuneiform Inscriptions of Persia,' vol. 1. pp. 285, 291, 319, 324, etc.). And build. That is "rebuild." The house that was builded these many years ago. The old house, begun more than 400, finished nearly 400 years previously, and only just beginning to rise again from its ruins, after lying waste for nearly seventy years. Which a great king of Israel builded and set up. Solomon, the greatest of the Jewish monarchs, if we consider the extent and prosperity of his kingdom, and the position that it occupied among the other kingdoms of the earth - a "great king" under whatever aspect we view him, though one who sowed the seeds of that corruption which ultimately sapped the national life, and provoked God to bring the monarchy to an end.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And this
וּכְנֵ֥מָא (ū·ḵə·nê·mā)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3660: Accordingly, as follows

is the answer
פִתְגָמָ֖א (p̄iṯ·ḡā·mā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 6600: A word, answer, letter, decree

they returned:
הֲתִיב֣וּנָא (hă·ṯî·ḇū·nā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine plural | first person common plural
Strong's 8421: To return

“We
אֲנַ֣חְנָא (’ă·naḥ·nā)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 586: We

are
הִמּ֡וֹ (him·mōw)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1994: They

servants
עַבְדוֹהִי֩ (‘aḇ·ḏō·w·hî)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5649: Slave, servant

of the God
אֱלָ֨הּ (’ĕ·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 426: God

of heaven
שְׁמַיָּ֜א (šə·may·yā)
Noun - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 8065: The sky

and earth,
וְאַרְעָ֗א (wə·’ar·‘ā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 772: The earth, low

and we are rebuilding
וּבָנַ֤יִן (ū·ḇā·na·yin)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1124: To build

the temple
בַּיְתָא֙ (bay·ṯā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1005: A house

that
דִֽי־ (ḏî-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

was
הֲוָ֨א (hă·wā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1934: To become, come to pass, be

built
בְנֵ֜ה (ḇə·nêh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1124: To build

many
שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן (śag·gî·’ān)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7690: Great, much

years
שְׁנִ֣ין (šə·nîn)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8140: A year

ago,
מִקַּדְמַ֤ת (miq·qaḏ·maṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6928: Former time

which a great
רַ֔ב (raḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7229: Abundant

king
וּמֶ֤לֶךְ (ū·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4430: A king

of Israel
לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (lə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3479: Israel -- descendant of Jacob

built
בְּנָ֖הִי (bə·nā·hî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1124: To build

and completed.
וְשַׁכְלְלֵֽהּ׃ (wə·šaḵ·lə·lêh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3635: To complete

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OT History: Ezra 5:11 Thus they returned us answer saying We (Ezr. Ez)