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Ezra 5:11

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ezra 5:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
Ezra 5:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezra 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.
9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
10We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.
11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
← Ezra 5:10Ezra 5:12 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thus they returned us answer, etc.] To the purpose and in the manner following: saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; signifying that they were doing his work, in obedience to his will, and to whom they were accountable: and build the house that was builded these many years ago; even five hundred years ago, or thereabout; so that they were not erecting a building where there was none before, but were rebuilding what was in ruins: which a great king of Israel builded and set up; King Solomon, who was a great king for wisdom, honour, riches, peace, prosperity, and extent of his kingdom.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:11 the God of heaven: This title would be understood by the Persians: He was the universal high God, not an insignificant local deity. • a great king of Israel: Solomon (see 1 Kgs 5–8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“We are: Jos 24:15; Psa 119:46; Dan 3:26; Jon 1:9; Mat 10:32; Luk 12:8; Act 27:23; Rom 1:16, Rom 6:16; Gal 6:14 which a great: 1Kings 6:1-7:51; 2Chr. 3:1-5:14 Ezra 5:12”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The answer of the elders of the Jews. They returned us answer in the following manner (לממר = לאמר): "We are His, the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house which was built many years ago; and a great king of Israel built and completed it." דּנה מקּדמת, of before this, i.e., before the present; to which is added the more precise definition: many years (accusative of time), i.e., many years before the present time. Ezra 5:12”
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Sources and verification