Keraia
Ezra 5

Ezra 5:8

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius · Ezra 5:6–17
Read Ezra 5

Translations

Modern
Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.
Traditional
Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
Literal
Be it Known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and it is being built with rolled stones, and timber is being laid in the walls, and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.
Latin
Notum sit regi, isse nos ad Judæam provinciam, ad domum Dei magni, quæ ædificatur lapide impolito, et ligna ponuntur in parietibus: opusque illud diligenter exstruitur, et crescit in manibus eorum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.

Notes

Ezra 5:8

  • The title the great God was a Persian way to refer to an important high deity. It does not mean the provincial authorities believed in Israel’s God.

  • Following the design of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:36), builders placed a layer of timber in the walls after every three rows of prepared stones (see Ezra 6:4). This helped reduce potential earthquake damage.

Ezra 5:6–17

Ezra includes a copy in Aramaic of Tattenai’s letter to King Darius. Unlike the letter in Ezra 4:11–16, this letter simply asks if the Jews' actions are valid.

Theme notes and profiles

Cyrus II The Jewish High Council Zerubbabel

Places

Judea: The southern region of Israel, centered around Jerusalem

Glossary

Ancient Letter Writing Aramaic Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius First Book of Esdras Haggai, Book of Judea, Judeans Persia, Persians Postexilic Period Sheshbazzar Temple Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Church: House of God Temple: The Second: Restored by Zerubbabel the Second Temple: Tatnai the Governor Wrote to Darius to Know If the Building Walls: Frequently Made of Stone and Wood Together