Ezra 5:17
in Ezra 5Now, 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in Ezra 5
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Let there be search made ... at Babylon - They perhaps doubted whether proof of the decree of Cyrus remained in the archives. The Pseudo-Smerdis had had the records in his power for seven months; and, when he reversed the policy of his predecessors, might have been expected to destroy their edicts. The decree was not found at Babylon, the most natural place for it, but in the provincial capital of Ecbatana, which Tatnai and his friends had not asked Darius to have searched (see Ezr 6:2).
This site's exposition
laid the foundation of the house of God
on Ezra 5:16-17
Sheshbazzar laid the foundation, and the elders' answer closes with an admission that the house is still unfinished. That unfinished house is the reason for the letter, the work Tattenai found in progress. His request is even-handed, that the royal archives be searched to see whether Cyrus issued the decree.
This site's exposition
the royal archives in Babylon
The governors ask for a search at Babylon. Albert Barnes notes from 6:2 that the decree was found at Ecbatana, a provincial capital outside the search they asked for. Matthew Henry holds that Artaxerxes, given a report as fair as this one, would have let the work go on.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We have reason to think that if Artaxerxes, in the foregoing chapter, had had the Jews' cause as fairly represented to him as it was here to Darius, he would not have ordered the work to be hindered.
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,....
Note, (1.) The temple of God among men is to be built by prophecy, not by secular force (that often hinders it, but seldom furthers it), but by the word of God. As the weapons of our warfare, so the instruments of our building, are not carnal, but spiritual, and they are the ministers of the gospel that are the master-builders.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Not a word was uttered to dispirit the Jews or afford cause of triumph to their opponents. Matters were to go on till contrary orders arrived from Babylon. After surveying the work in progress, he inquired: first, by what authority this national temple was undertaken; and, secondly, the names of the principal promoters and directors of the undertaking.
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.
The words behind it
32 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּכְעַ֞ן | ukhean | and now | H3705 → | 13 times |
| הֵ֧ן | hen | if | H2006 → | 19 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | to | H5922 → | 104 times |
| מַלְכָּ֣א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| טָ֗ב | tav | [it is] good | H2869 → | |
| יִ֠תְבַּקַּר | yitbakar | let it be searched | H1240 → | 5 times |
| בְּבֵ֨ית | beveit | in [the] house of | H1005 → | 44 times |
| גִּנְזַיָּ֜א | ginzaiya' | treasures the | H1596 → | 3 times |
| דִּי־ | di- | of | H1768 → | 345 times |
| מַלְכָּ֣א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| תַמָּה֮ | tamah | there | H8536 → | 4 times |
| דִּ֣י | di | which | H1768 → | 345 times |
| בְּבָבֶל֒ | bevavel | [are] in Babylon | H895 → | 25 times |
| הֵ֣ן | hen | whether | H2006 → | 19 times |
| אִיתַ֗י | ʾitai | there | H383 → | |
| דִּֽי־ | di- | [is] that | H1768 → | 345 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4481 → | 109 times |
| כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ | koresh | Cyrus | H3567 → | 8 times |
| מַלְכָּא֙ | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| שִׂ֣ים | sim | it was made | H7761 → | 26 times |
| טְעֵ֔ם | teem | [is] a decree | H2942 → | 28 times |
| לְמִבְנֵ֛א | lemivne' | to build | H1124 → | 22 times |
| בֵּית־ | beit- | [the] house of | H1005 → | 44 times |
| אֱלָהָ֥א | ʾelaha' | <the> God | H426 → | 95 times |
| דֵ֖ךְ | dekh | this | H1791 → | 13 times |
| בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם | birushelem | in Jerusalem | H3390 → | 26 times |
| וּרְע֥וּת | ureut | and [the] will of | H7470 → | |
| מַלְכָּ֛א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | concerning | H5922 → | 104 times |
| דְּנָ֖ה | denah | this | H1836 → | 58 times |
| יִשְׁלַ֥ח | yishlach | let him send | H7972 → | 14 times |
| עֲלֶֽינָא׃ ס | ʾaleina' | to us | H5922 → | 104 times |
וּכְעַ֞ןand now
ukheanH3705 →13 times
הֵ֧ןif
henH2006 →19 times
עַל־to
ʾal-H5922 →104 times
מַלְכָּ֣אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
טָ֗ב[it is] good
tavH2869 →
יִ֠תְבַּקַּרlet it be searched
yitbakarH1240 →5 times
בְּבֵ֨יתin [the] house of
beveitH1005 →44 times
גִּנְזַיָּ֜אtreasures the
ginzaiya'H1596 →3 times
דִּי־of
di-H1768 →345 times
מַלְכָּ֣אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
תַמָּה֮there
tamahH8536 →4 times
דִּ֣יwhich
diH1768 →345 times
בְּבָבֶל֒[are] in Babylon
bevavelH895 →25 times
הֵ֣ןwhether
henH2006 →19 times
אִיתַ֗יthere
ʾitaiH383 →
דִּֽי־[is] that
di-H1768 →345 times
מִן־from
min-H4481 →109 times
כּ֤וֹרֶשׁCyrus
koreshH3567 →8 times
מַלְכָּא֙king the
malka'H4430 →180 times
שִׂ֣יםit was made
simH7761 →26 times
טְעֵ֔ם[is] a decree
teemH2942 →28 times
לְמִבְנֵ֛אto build
lemivne'H1124 →22 times
בֵּית־[the] house of
beit-H1005 →44 times
אֱלָהָ֥א<the> God
ʾelaha'H426 →95 times
דֵ֖ךְthis
dekhH1791 →13 times
בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑םin Jerusalem
birushelemH3390 →26 times
וּרְע֥וּתand [the] will of
ureutH7470 →
מַלְכָּ֛אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
עַל־concerning
ʾal-H5922 →104 times
דְּנָ֖הthis
denahH1836 →58 times
יִשְׁלַ֥חlet him send
yishlachH7972 →14 times
עֲלֶֽינָא׃ סto us
ʾaleina'H5922 →104 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
- Romans 11:33–34
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
- Job 11:7–8
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 38:4
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- Job 42:3
You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
- Deuteronomy 29:29
Through
Ezra 4:19I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
it leads to
- 2 Kings 24:20
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Kings 18:7
And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.
- 2 Kings 24:20
Through
Ezra 4:15that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting…
it leads to
- Ezra 4:12
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing…
- Ezra 4:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ezra
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceBabil Governorate (archaeological site)BabylonAncient Mesopotamian city and imperial capital; site of the Israelite exile and a recurring biblical symbol of worldly power.
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.