Ezra 5:6

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius · Ezra 5:6–17
Read Ezra 5

Translations

Modern
This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.
Traditional
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
Literal
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor beyond the River, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions, the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.
Latin
Exemplar epistolæ, quam misit Thathanai dux regionis trans flumen, et Stharbuzanai, et consiliatores ejus Arphasachæi, qui erant trans flumen, ad Darium regem.

Original

Hebrew
English
This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.

Notes

officials: A Persian term for inspectors or investigators.

Ezra includes a copy in Aramaic of Tattenai’s letter to King Darius. Unlike the letter in Ezra 4:11–16, this letter simply asks if the Jews' actions are valid.

Theme notes and profiles

Cyrus II The Jewish High Council Zerubbabel

People

Apharasthchite: Apharsathchites: A group opposing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple Darius: Persian king who decreed the rebuilding of the Temple Shethar-bozenai: Persian official who questioned the Jews' temple rebuilding Tattenai: Persian governor who questioned the Jews' authority to rebuild

Places

Euphrates: Major river in ancient Near East; boundary of Promised Land

Glossary

Apharsachites, Apharsathchites, Apharsites Aramaic Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius First Book of Esdras Haggai, Book of Persia, Persians Postexilic Period Sheshbazzar Shethar-Bozenai, Shethar-Boznai Tattenai Temple Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Apharsachites: General Scriptures Concerning Government: Provincial Liberality: Jews After the Captivity Shethar-Boznai: An official of the King of Persia Tatnai: A Persian Governor in Samaria Temple: The Second: Restored by Zerubbabel the Second Temple: Tatnai the Governor Wrote to Darius to Know If the Building