Ezra 5 · Verse 3

Ezra 5:3

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?
Ezra 5:3, King James Version

Ezra 5:3 in other translations

BSBAt 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?”
WEBAt 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?”
ASVAt 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?
YLTAt that time come to them hath Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and thus they are saying to them, ‘Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?'
DARBYAt 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?
BBEAt the same time, Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and their men, came to them and said, Who gave you orders to go on building this house and this wall?
WebsterAt the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

What does Ezra 5:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezra 5:3-4
3-4. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river--The Persian empire west of the Euphrates included at this time Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Phoenicia, and other provinces subject to Darius. The empire was divided into twenty provinces, called satrapies. Syria formed one satrapy, inclusive of Palestine, Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and furnished an annual revenue of three hundred fifty talents. It was presided over by a satrap or viceroy, who at this time resided at Damascus. Though superior to the native governors of the Jews appointed by the Persian king, he never interfered with their internal government except when there was a threatened disturbance of order and tranquillity. Tatnai, the governor (whether this was a personal name or an official title is unknown), had probably been incited by the complaints and turbulent outrages of the Samaritans against the Jews; but he suspended his judgment, and he prudently resolved to repair to Jerusalem, that he might ascertain the real state of matters by personal inspection and enquiry, in company with another dignified officer and his provincial council.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Tatnai, governor - He was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire on their side of the Euphrates, comprehending Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia, and Samaria. He seems to have been a mild and judicious man; and to have acted with great prudence and caution, and without any kind of prejudice. The manner in which he represented this to the king is a full proof of this disposition.

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, 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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ezra 5:3 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.

בֵּהּ\־beh-at it
זִמְנָא֩zim.Na'time theH2166
אֲתָ֨א'a.Ta'he cameH858
עֲלֵיה֜וֹןa.lei.Honto themH5922
תַּ֠תְּנַיTa.te.naiTattenaiH8674
פַּחַ֧תpa.Chat[the] governor ofH6347
עֲבַֽר\־'a.var-[the] region beyondH5675
נַהֲרָ֛הna.ha.Rah'river theH5103
וּשְׁתַ֥רu.she.Tarand Shethar-H8370
בּוֹזְנַ֖יboz.NaiBozenaiH8370
וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹןu.khe.na.va.te.Honand associates theirH3675
וְכֵן֙ve.Khenand as followsH3652
אָמְרִ֣ין'a.me.Rin[they were] sayingH560
לְהֹ֔םle.Homto them
מַן\־man-who?H4479
שָׂ֨םsamdid he makeH7761
לְכֹ֜םle.Khomfor you
טְעֵ֗םte.'Ema decreeH2942
בַּיְתָ֤אbay.Ta'house theH1005
דְנָה֙de.NahthisH1836
לִבְּנֵ֔אli.be.Ne'to buildH1124
וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥אve.'u.shar.Na'and structure theH846
דְנָ֖הde.NahthisH1836
לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה\׃\ \סle.shakh.la.Lahto finishH3635

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

Cross references for Ezra 5:3

  • Ezra 6:6

    Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar–boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

  • Ezra 1:3

    Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

  • Ezra 5:9

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

  • Ezra 6:13

    Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar–boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

  • Ezra 5:6

    The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

  • Matthew 21:23

    And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

  • Ezra 7:21

    And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

  • Acts 4:7

    And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

  • Ezra 4:12

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

  • Nehemiah 2:7-9

    Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tatnai.Tatnai was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire west of the Euphrates, comprehending Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia, and Samaria. He seems to have been a mild and judicious man, and to have acted with great prudence and caution, and without any passion or prejudice.
6; 6:6,13; 7:21; Ne 2:7-9
Who hath commanded you.
9; 1:3; Mt 21:23; Ac 4:7

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

Context

  • Ezra 5:2

    Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

  • Ezra 5:3

    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?

  • Ezra 5:4

    Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

Read all of Ezra 5

Ezra 5:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En aquel tiempo vino á ellos Tatnai, capitán de la parte allá del río, y Sethar-boznai y sus compañeros, y dijéronles así: ¿Quién os dió mandamiento para edificar esta casa, y restablecer estos muros?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		En ce temps-là, Thathnaï, gouverneur de ce côté du fleuve, et Shethar-Boznaï, et leurs collègues, vinrent vers eux, et leur parlèrent ainsi: Qui vous a donné ordre de bâtir cette maison et d’achever cette muraille?
German
Elberfelder 1871		In jener Zeit kamen Tatnai, der Landpfleger diesseit des Stromes, und Schethar-Bosnai und ihre Genossen zu ihnen und sprachen zu ihnen also: Wer hat euch Befehl gegeben, dieses Haus zu bauen und diese Mauer zu vollenden?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In ipso autem tempore venit ad eos Thathanai, qui erat dux trans flumen, et Stharbuzanai, et consiliarii eorum: sicque dixerunt eis: Quis dedit vobis consilium ut domum hanc ædificaretis, et muros ejus instauraretis?