Ezra 5:3

1 Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.

2 Then 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.

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?”

4 They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”

5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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?”
KJV
At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
WEB
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?”
ASV
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?
DARBY
At that time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them: Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?
BLB
At the same time came to them Tattenai, governor beyond the River, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and thus spoke to them: “Who has made to you⁺ a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”
ÅB
På den tid kom Tatnai, som var stattholder hinsides elven, og Setar-Bosnai og deres embedsbrødre til dem; og de talte slik til dem: Hvem har gitt dere befaling til å bygge dette hus og fullføre denne mur?
OTB
I denne perioden kom Tattenai, guvernøren i regionen bortenfor Eufrat, sammen med Sjetar-Bosenai og deres kolleger, til dem og spurte: “Hvem har gitt dere myndighet til å gjenoppbygge dette tempelet og fullføre denne strukturen?”
B1930
På den tid kom Tatnai, som var stattholder hinsides elven, og Setar-Bosnai og deres embedsbrødre til dem; og de talte således til dem: Hvem har gitt eder befaling til å bygge dette hus og fullføre denne mur?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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!

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 5:9

    So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 21:23

    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?”

    Read in context
  • Ezra 7:21

    I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,

    Read in context
  • Acts 4:7

    They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

    Read in context