Ezra 5:3 Meaning and Explanation
“At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Persian regional governor Tatnai and his officials arrive and demand to know who authorized the rebuilding.
What Does Ezra 5:3 Mean?
Tatnai governed the province "beyond the River," the vast region west of the Euphrates that included Judah. His question is an official inquiry into the project's legality: by whose decree are these people building? The challenge could easily have halted the work again.
Faithful obedience often draws scrutiny. Yet the question here is asked plainly, without the open hostility of earlier opponents, and God will use even this official's inquiry to confirm His people's right to build. What looks like a threat can become, in God's hands, the very means by which His purposes are secured.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 5:3
What does Ezra 5:3 mean?
The Persian regional governor Tatnai and his officials arrive and demand to know who authorized the rebuilding.