Ezra 5:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The elders reply that they serve the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that a great king of Israel had built long ago.
What Does Ezra 5:11 Mean?
The builders' answer is preserved in their own confident words. They identify themselves first by whom they serve, "the God of heaven and earth," and root their work in history: this is the restoration of the temple Solomon, "a great king of Israel," had built generations before.
Before they speak of permits or kings, they confess their God, the Maker of heaven and earth. Identity precedes activity. To know oneself as a servant of the living God settles every other question of standing and purpose. Their bold, reverent self-description is a model of how faith answers a watching world.
Ezra 5:11 in the Original Language
shamayin (שְׁמַיָּא), 'heaven' -- the Aramaic word here names God as Lord of heaven and earth, sovereign over all.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 5:11
What does Ezra 5:11 mean?
The elders reply that they serve the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that a great king of Israel had built long ago.