Ezra 5:8 - Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.

Generated Verse: Ezra 5:8

What does "Ezra 5:8" mean?


This verse, Ezra 5:8, is part of a letter written to King Darius of Persia by Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates, and his associates. They are reporting on the activities of the Jews who are rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.

Here's a breakdown of the meaning:

"Be it known to the king...": This is a formal way of introducing their report to the king, emphasizing its importance and the need for his attention.

"...that we went into the province of Judah...": This indicates they physically traveled to the region of Judah, where Jerusalem is located, to investigate the situation firsthand.

"...to the house of the great God...": This refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. The phrase "great God" highlights the importance of the deity being worshipped and acknowledged that the Jews consider their God above other gods.

"...which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls...": This describes the construction process of the Temple. The use of "great stones" and timber indicates a substantial and well-planned building, showcasing the scale and the resources being used.

"...This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.": This is a key point of the verse. It means the work is being carried out enthusiastically and successfully. "Diligence" signifies hard work and dedication, and "prospers in their hands" means the project is progressing well and achieving positive results.

In essence, this verse is a factual report to the king about the Jews' rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem. It highlights:

The official investigation: They were sent to observe and report.
The focus on the Temple: It's central to the Jews' activities.
The scale and quality of the construction: The use of "great stones" and timber.
The success of the project: The work is being done diligently and prospering.

The purpose of this report to the king is to inform him about the situation and likely to influence his decision on whether to allow the rebuilding to continue. The officials want to be honest and present the facts of the matter to their king.