Ezra 5:4
New International Version
They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?”

New Living Translation
They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple.

English Standard Version
They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”

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

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

New King James Version
Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.

New American Standard Bible
Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.

NASB 1995
Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.

NASB 1977
Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were rebuilding this building.

Amplified Bible
Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were reconstructing this building.

Christian Standard Bible
They also asked them, “What are the names of the workers who are constructing this building? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They also asked them, “What are the names of the workers who are constructing this building?”

American Standard Version
Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.

Contemporary English Version
Give us the names of the workers!"

English Revised Version
Then spake we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They also asked the Jews for the names of the men who were working on this building.

Good News Translation
They also asked for the names of all the men who were helping build the Temple.

International Standard Version
In answer, we responded with a list of the names of the men who were building the structure.

Majority Standard Bible
They also asked, ?What are the names of the men who are constructing this building??

NET Bible
They also asked them, "What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?"

New Heart English Bible
Then they asked them, "What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

World English Bible
They also asked for the names of the men were who were making this building.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then we have said thus to them, “What [are] the names of the men who are building this building?”

Young's Literal Translation
Then thus we have said to them, 'What are the names of the men who are building this building?'

Smith's Literal Translation
Then thus said we to them, What are they the names of the men that build this building?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the promoters of that building.

Catholic Public Domain Version
We responded to this by giving them the names of the men who were the founders of that building.

New American Bible
What are the names of the men who are building this structure?”

New Revised Standard Version
They also asked them this, “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then they spoke to them according to the law, saying, What are the names of the men who are doing this building?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then, according to the law, they said to them: “What are the names of these men who build this building?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then spoke we unto them after this manner [, wrote they]: What are the names of the men that build this building?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then they spoke thus to them, What are the names of the men that build this city?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temple Rebuilding Resumes
3At 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?” 4They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?” 5But 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.…

Cross References
Ezra 4:11-16
(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates: / Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations. / Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer. ...

Nehemiah 2:19-20
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” / 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.”

Haggai 1:1-2
In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating / that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”

Zechariah 4:6-9
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. / What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” / Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ...

Daniel 6:6-9
So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! / All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. / Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ...

1 Kings 5:1-5
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David. / And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: / “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. ...

2 Chronicles 36:22-23
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: / “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.’”

Jeremiah 29:10
For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.

Acts 4:18-20
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. / But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. / For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:27-29
They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. / “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” / But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 7:48-50
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things?’

Acts 15:13-18
When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! / Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. / The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: ...

Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

1 Corinthians 3:9-11
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. / By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. / For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

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

What are

Ezra 5:10
We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

make this building.

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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














They also asked
This phrase indicates a continuation of inquiry, suggesting a persistent interest or concern from the questioning party. In the historical context, this reflects the scrutiny faced by the Jewish exiles as they attempted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The Hebrew root for "asked" (שָׁאַל, sha'al) implies a seeking or demanding of information, which can be seen as a reflection of the political tension and the need for accountability in the Persian Empire. This persistence can inspire modern believers to remain steadfast in their faith and mission, even when faced with external pressures.

What are the names
Names in the ancient Near Eastern context carried significant weight, often reflecting one's identity, heritage, and authority. The inquiry about the names of the builders underscores the importance of accountability and responsibility. In a spiritual sense, this can remind Christians of the importance of living lives that honor the name of Christ, as names are tied to reputation and legacy. The emphasis on names also highlights the personal nature of God's work through individuals, encouraging believers to recognize their unique roles in God's plan.

of the men
The focus on "men" here highlights the human element in the divine task of rebuilding the temple. It underscores the partnership between God and humanity in accomplishing His purposes. Historically, this reflects the patriarchal society of the time, where men were often the primary actors in public and religious life. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder that God calls and equips individuals to participate in His work, regardless of their societal status, and that each person has a role to play in the body of Christ.

who are constructing
The act of constructing signifies building, creating, and restoring. The Hebrew root for "constructing" (בָּנָה, banah) is often used in the context of building something significant, such as a house or a city. This reflects the physical and spiritual rebuilding of the Jewish community and their worship practices. For Christians, it symbolizes the ongoing work of building the Kingdom of God, both in personal spiritual growth and in the broader mission of the Church. It encourages believers to be active participants in God's redemptive work in the world.

this building
The "building" in question is the temple, a central place of worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. In the historical context, the rebuilding of the temple was a fulfillment of God's promises and a sign of hope and restoration for the Jewish exiles. For Christians, the temple can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ, who is the true temple, and the Church, which is the spiritual temple made up of believers. This phrase inspires believers to consider their own lives as temples of the Holy Spirit, called to reflect God's glory and presence in the world.

(4) Then said we.--The LXX. must here have read, "then said they." But there is no need to change the text; the sentence is not a question, but a statement: "we said to the effect, what the names were."

What are the names of the men . . .?--It is clear that this graphic account is much compressed. We must understand (see Ezra 5:10) that the authorities demanded the names of the chief promoters of the building in order to make them responsible.

Verse 4. - Then said we unto them. It is impossible that the existing text can be sound here. Ezra must have written, "Then said they to them." Tatnai and Shethar-boznai followed up their first question by a second, "What are the names of the men that make this building?" (comp. below, vers. 9, 10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They also
אֱדַ֥יִן (’ĕ·ḏa·yin)
Adverb
Strong's 116: Then, thereupon

asked,
אֲמַ֣רְנָא (’ă·mar·nā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 560: To say, tell, command

“What
מַן־ (man-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4479: Who, what

are
אִנּוּן֙ (’in·nūn)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 581: They, those

the names
שְׁמָהָ֣ת (šə·mā·hāṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8036: A name

of the men
גֻּבְרַיָּ֔א (guḇ·ray·yā)
Noun - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 1400: A person

who
דִּֽי־ (dî-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

are constructing
בָּנַֽיִן׃ (bā·na·yin)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1124: To build

this
דְנָ֥ה (ḏə·nāh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1836: This

building?”
בִנְיָנָ֖א (ḇin·yā·nā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1147: An edifice


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OT History: Ezra 5:4 Then we told them after this manner (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 5:3
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