Ezra 5 · Verse 17

Ezra 5:17

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Ezra 5:17, King James Version

Ezra 5:17 in other translations

BSBNow, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
WEBNow therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”
ASVNow therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
YLT‘And now, if to the king it be good, let search be made in the treasure-house of the king, that is there in Babylon, whether it be that of Cyrus the king there was made a decree to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and the will of the king concerning this thing he doth send unto us.'
DARBYAnd now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that orders were given by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
BBESo now, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the king's store-house at Babylon, to see if it is true that an order was given by Cyrus the king for the building of this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us word of his pleasure in connection with this business.
WebsterNow therefore, if it seemeth good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

What does Ezra 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezra 5:5-17

5-17. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, &c.--The unusual presence, the imposing suite, the authoritative enquiries of the satrap appeared formidable, and might have produced a paralyzing influence or led to disastrous consequences, if he had been a partial and corrupt judge or actuated by unfriendly feelings towards the Jewish cause. The historian, therefore, with characteristic piety, throws…

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Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The - treasure house - גנזיא ginzaiya. This is a Persian word, gunji, a treasury. There is a great deal of good sense and candour in this letter. Nothing of passion or prejudice appears in it. They laid before the king a fair statement without any attempt to prejudice his mind, and gave him those directions which were most likely to lead him to the truth, and to form a correct judgment on a business which, however it issued, must be of considerable importance to the state. God was in all this business; he was now giving an additional proof of his continued regard for a disobedient people, whom, though he had punished in his justice, he had spared in his mercy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezra 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…

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Ezra 5:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּכְעַ֞ןu.khe.'Anand nowH3705
הֵ֧ןhenifH2006
עַל\־'al-toH5922
מַלְכָּ֣אmal.Ka'king theH4430
טָ֗בTav[it is] goodH2869
יִ֠תְבַּקַּרYit.ba.karlet it be searchedH1240
בְּבֵ֨יתbe.Veitin [the] house ofH1005
גִּנְזַיָּ֜אgin.zai.Ya'treasures theH1596
דִּי\־di-ofH1768
מַלְכָּ֣אmal.Ka'king theH4430
תַמָּה֮ta.MahthereH8536
דִּ֣יdiwhichH1768
בְּבָבֶל֒be.va.Vel[are] in BabylonH895
הֵ֣ןhenwhetherH2006
אִיתַ֗י'i.TaithereH383
דִּֽי\־di-[is] thatH1768
מִן\־min-fromH4481
כּ֤וֹרֶשׁKo.reshCyrusH3567
מַלְכָּא֙mal.Ka'king theH4430
שִׂ֣יםsimit was madeH7761
טְעֵ֔םte.'Em[is] a decreeH2942
לְמִבְנֵ֛אle.miv.Ne'to buildH1124
בֵּית\־beit-[the] house ofH1005
אֱלָהָ֥א'e.la.Ha'<the> GodH426
דֵ֖ךְdekhthisH1791
בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑םbi.ru.she.Lemin JerusalemH3390
וּרְע֥וּתu.re.'Utand [the] will ofH7470
מַלְכָּ֛אmal.Ka'king theH4430
עַל\־'al-concerningH5922
דְּנָ֖הde.NahthisH1836
יִשְׁלַ֥חyish.Lachlet him sendH7972
עֲלֶֽינָא\׃\ \ס'a.Lei.na'to usH5922

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezra 5:17

  • Ezra 4:15

    That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

  • Ezra 4:19

    And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

  • Proverbs 25:2

    It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

  • Ezra 6:1-5

    Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A.M. 3485. B.C. 519. let there be.
4:15,19; 6:1,2; Pr 25:2
a decree.
6:3-5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezra 5:16

    Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

  • Ezra 5:17

    Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Read all of Ezra 5

Ezra 5:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ahora, si al rey parece bien, búsquese en la casa de los tesoros del rey que está allí en Babilonia, si es así que por el rey Ciro había sido dado mandamiento para edificar esta casa de Dios en Jerusalem, y envíenos á decir la voluntad del rey sobre esto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et maintenant, s’il semble bon au roi, qu’on recherche dans la maison des trésors du roi, qui est là à Babylone, s’il est vrai que, de par le roi Cyrus, ordre a été donné de bâtir cette maison de Dieu à Jérusalem; et que le roi nous envoie sa volonté sur cela.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und nun, wenn es den König gut dünkt, so werde nachgesucht in dem Schatzhause des Königs, welches dort zu Babel ist, ob es so sei, daß vom König Kores Befehl gegeben worden ist, dieses Haus Gottes in Jerusalem zu bauen; und der König sende uns seinen Willen hierüber zu.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc ergo si videtur regi bonum, recenseat in bibliotheca regis, quæ est in Babylone, utrumnam a Cyro rege jussum fuerit ut ædificaretur domus Dei in Jerusalem, et voluntatem regis super hac re mittat ad nos.