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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezra 5:4 They also asked, "What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezra/5-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/15_Ezr_05_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezra 5:4 - Temple Rebuilding Resumes" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They also asked, What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?" /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezra/5-3.htm" title="Ezra 5:3">◄</a> Ezra 5:4 <a href="/ezra/5-5.htm" title="Ezra 5:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezra/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezra/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />They also asked, &#8220What are the names of those who are constructing this building?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezra/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezra/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezra/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezra/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezra/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezra/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezra/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezra/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezra/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were rebuilding this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezra/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were reconstructing this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezra/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They also asked them, “What are the names of the workers who are constructing this building? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezra/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They also asked them, &#8220What are the names of the workers who are constructing this building?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezra/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezra/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Give us the names of the workers!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezra/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then spake we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezra/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They also asked the Jews for the names of the men who were working on this building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezra/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They also asked for the names of all the men who were helping build the Temple. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezra/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />In answer, we responded with a list of the names of the men who were building the structure. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezra/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They also asked, ?What are the names of the men who are constructing this building??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezra/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They also asked them, "What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezra/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then they asked them, "What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezra/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezra/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They also asked for the names of the men were who were making this building. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezra/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Then we have said thus to them, “What [are] the names of the men who are building this building?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezra/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Then thus we have said to them, 'What are the names of the men who are building this building?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezra/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Then thus said we to them, What are they the names of the men that build this building?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezra/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the promoters of that building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezra/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />We responded to this by giving them the names of the men who were the founders of that building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezra/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />What are the names of the men who are building this structure?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezra/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They also asked them this, “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezra/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then they spoke to them according to the law, saying, What are the names of the men who are doing this building?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezra/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Then, according to the law, they said to them: “What are the names of these men who build this building?”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezra/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then spoke we unto them after this manner [, wrote they]: What are the names of the men that build this building?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezra/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Then they spoke thus to them, What are the names of the men that build this city?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezra/5-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sh6ec6iQe9M?start=1108" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezra/5.htm">Temple Rebuilding Resumes</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>At 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?” <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/116.htm" title="116: ’ĕ·ḏa·yin (Adv) -- Then, thereupon. (Aramaic) of uncertain derivation; then (of time).">They also</a> <a href="/hebrew/3660.htm" title="3660: kə·nê·mā (Adv) -- Accordingly, as follows. (Aramaic) corresponding to kmow; so or thus."></a> <a href="/hebrew/560.htm" title="560: ’ă·mar·nā (V-Qal-Perf-1cp) -- To say, tell, command. (Aramaic) corresponding to 'amar.">asked,</a> <a href="/hebrew/lə·hōm (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4479.htm" title="4479: man- (Interrog) -- Who?. (Aramaic) from mah; who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively).">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/581.htm" title="581: ’in·nūn (Pro-3mp) -- They, those. (Aramaic) or (feminine) inniyn (Aramaic); corresponding to hem; they.">are</a> <a href="/hebrew/8036.htm" title="8036: šə·mā·hāṯ (N-mpc) -- A name. (Aramaic) corresponding to shem.">the names</a> <a href="/hebrew/1400.htm" title="1400: guḇ·ray·yā (N-mpd) -- Man. (Aramaic) corresponding to gbar.">of the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/1768.htm" title="1768: dî- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that, because. ">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/1124.htm" title="1124: bā·na·yin (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To build. (Aramaic) or bnah (Aramaic); corresponding to banah; to build.">are constructing</a> <a href="/hebrew/1836.htm" title="1836: ḏə·nāh (Pro-ms) -- This. (Aramaic) an orthographical variation of dek; this.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/1147.htm" title="1147: ḇin·yā·nā (N-msd) -- A building. (Aramaic) corresponding to binyan.">building?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>But 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/4-11.htm">Ezra 4:11-16</a></span><br />(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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/2-19.htm">Nehemiah 2:19-20</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/haggai/1-1.htm">Haggai 1:1-2</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/4-6.htm">Zechariah 4:6-9</a></span><br />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, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/6-6.htm">Daniel 6:6-9</a></span><br />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.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/5-1.htm">1 Kings 5:1-5</a></span><br />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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-22.htm">2 Chronicles 36:22-23</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/29-10.htm">Jeremiah 29:10</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/4-18.htm">Acts 4:18-20</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-27.htm">Acts 5:27-29</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-48.htm">Acts 7:48-50</a></span><br />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?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13-18</a></span><br />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: ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Romans 13:1-2</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-9.htm">1 Corinthians 3:9-11</a></span><br />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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?</p><p class="hdg">What are</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/5-10.htm">Ezra 5:10</a></b></br> We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that <i>were</i> the chief of them.</p><p class="hdg">make this building.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/28-17.htm">Accordingly</a> <a href="/ezra/5-3.htm">Build</a> <a href="/ezra/5-2.htm">Building</a> <a href="/exodus/36-3.htm">Constructing</a> <a href="/ezra/4-16.htm">Making</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-13.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/ezra/2-62.htm">Names</a> <a href="/ezra/4-11.htm">Words</a> <a href="/ezra/5-2.htm">Work</a> <a href="/ezra/4-9.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezra/6-13.htm">Accordingly</a> <a href="/ezra/5-9.htm">Build</a> <a href="/ezra/5-9.htm">Building</a> <a href="/exodus/36-3.htm">Constructing</a> <a href="/nehemiah/3-4.htm">Making</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-4.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/ezra/5-10.htm">Names</a> <a href="/ezra/7-11.htm">Words</a> <a href="/ezra/5-8.htm">Work</a> <a href="/esther/8-5.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">Ezra 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/5-1.htm">Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/5-3.htm">Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/5-6.htm">Their letter to Darius against the Jews</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezra/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezra/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezra/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>They also asked,</b><br>This phrase indicates an inquiry made by officials or adversaries of the Jewish people during the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The context is the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon under the decree of King Cyrus, as recorded in <a href="/ezra/1.htm">Ezra 1</a>. The rebuilding efforts faced opposition from local inhabitants and officials, as seen in <a href="/ezra/4.htm">Ezra 4</a>, where adversaries sought to frustrate their plans. This questioning reflects ongoing scrutiny and challenges faced by the Jewish community.<p><b>“What are the names of the men</b><br>The request for names suggests an attempt to identify and possibly intimidate or hold accountable those leading the construction efforts. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, names held significant power and were often associated with authority and responsibility. This inquiry could be seen as a bureaucratic measure to report back to higher authorities, possibly to Darius, the reigning Persian king at the time.<p><b>who are constructing this building?”</b><br>The "building" refers to the second temple, a central place of worship for the Jewish people. The temple's reconstruction was crucial for restoring religious practices and national identity after the Babylonian exile. The emphasis on construction highlights the physical and spiritual rebuilding of the Jewish community. This effort fulfills prophecies such as those in <a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a> and <a href="/jeremiah/29-10.htm">Jeremiah 29:10</a>, which foretold the return and restoration of Jerusalem. The temple itself is a type of Christ, as it symbolizes God's presence among His people, foreshadowing Jesus as the ultimate temple (<a href="/john/2-19.htm">John 2:19-21</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_jewish_exiles.htm">The Jewish Exiles</a></b><br>These are the people who returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. They are the central figures in this account, demonstrating faith and perseverance in the face of opposition.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/tattenai.htm">Tattenai</a></b><br>The governor of the region beyond the River (Trans-Euphrates) who questioned the authority of the Jews to rebuild the temple. His inquiry represents the political and social challenges faced by the Jewish exiles.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/shethar-bozenai.htm">Shethar-Bozenai</a></b><br>An official who accompanied Tattenai in questioning the Jews. His involvement highlights the bureaucratic hurdles in the rebuilding process.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where the temple is being rebuilt. It is the spiritual and cultural center for the Jewish people, symbolizing their identity and relationship with God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_temple.htm">The Temple</a></b><br>The focal point of the Jewish exiles' efforts, representing the restoration of worship and covenant relationship with God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/facing_opposition_with_faith.htm">Facing Opposition with Faith</a></b><br>The Jewish exiles faced questioning and opposition, yet they continued their work. Believers today can expect challenges when pursuing God's purposes but should remain steadfast in faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_accountability.htm">The Importance of Accountability</a></b><br>The inquiry about the names of the builders underscores the need for accountability in leadership and community efforts. Christians are called to act with integrity and transparency.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_adversity.htm">God's Sovereignty in Adversity</a></b><br>Despite the opposition, God's plan for the temple's reconstruction was not thwarted. This teaches us to trust in God's sovereignty and timing, even when circumstances seem unfavorable.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_cooperation.htm">Community and Cooperation</a></b><br>The rebuilding effort required collaboration among the Jewish exiles. Similarly, the church today is called to work together in unity for the advancement of God's kingdom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_government_and_authority.htm">The Role of Government and Authority</a></b><br>Tattenai's inquiry reflects the interaction between God's people and secular authorities. Christians are encouraged to respect and engage with governmental structures while remaining faithful to God's commands.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezra_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezra 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/will_you_come,_lord_jesus.htm">Who was Shechaniah in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_god's_wrath_shown_in_the_bible.htm">Is using profanity consistent with biblical teachings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_solomon's_life_teach_us.htm">What lessons does Solomon's life teach us?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_take_zech._4_9_literally_without_evidence.htm">Why should Zerubbabel's promise in Zechariah 4:9 be taken literally, given the lack of archaeological evidence for a miraculous reconstruction of the temple?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezra/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Then said we.</span>--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."<p><span class= "bld">What are the names of the men</span> <span class= "bld">. . .?</span>--It is clear that this graphic account is much compressed. We must understand (see <a href="/ezra/5-10.htm" title="We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.">Ezra 5:10</a>) that the authorities demanded the names of the chief promoters of the building in order to make them responsible.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezra/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then said we unto them.</span> It is impossible that the existing text can be sound here. Ezra must have written, "Then said <span class="accented">they</span> 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). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezra/5-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">They also</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱדַ֥יִן</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·ḏa·yin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_116.htm">Strong's 116: </a> </span><span class="str2">Then, thereupon</span><br /><br /><span class="word">asked,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲמַ֣רְנָא</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·mar·nā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_560.htm">Strong's 560: </a> </span><span class="str2">To say, tell, command</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“What</span><br /><span class="heb">מַן־</span> <span class="translit">(man-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4479.htm">Strong's 4479: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are</span><br /><span class="heb">אִנּוּן֙</span> <span class="translit">(’in·nūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_581.htm">Strong's 581: </a> </span><span class="str2">They, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the names</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמָהָ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(šə·mā·hāṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8036.htm">Strong's 8036: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the men</span><br /><span class="heb">גֻּבְרַיָּ֔א</span> <span class="translit">(guḇ·ray·yā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural determinate<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1400.htm">Strong's 1400: </a> </span><span class="str2">A person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">דִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(dî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1768.htm">Strong's 1768: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, that, because</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are constructing</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנַֽיִן׃</span> <span class="translit">(bā·na·yin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1124.htm">Strong's 1124: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">דְנָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḏə·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1836.htm">Strong's 1836: </a> </span><span class="str2">This</span><br /><br /><span class="word">building?”</span><br /><span class="heb">בִנְיָנָ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(ḇin·yā·nā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular determinate<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1147.htm">Strong's 1147: </a> </span><span class="str2">An edifice</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezra/5-4.htm">Ezra 5:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezra/5-4.htm">OT History: Ezra 5:4 Then we told them after this manner (Ezr. Ez) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezra/5-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezra 5:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezra 5:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezra/5-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezra 5:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezra 5:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>