Ezra 5:16
What does Ezra 5:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 5:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 5:16 means
The elders report that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present, work has continued, though the house remains incomplete. This summary admits delay without conceding illegitimacy. The project’s long arc shows both persistence and the challenges faced. Yet the foundation itself testifies to lawful beginnings under imperial oversight. The elders’ statement invites the king to see the present effort as a continuation of that original, authorized start, not a new, unauthorized enterprise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then this same Sheshbazzar came and put the house of God in Jerusalem on its bases: and from that time till now the building has been going on, but it is still not complete.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Then hath this Sheshbazzar come--he hath laid the foundations of the house of God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and from thence even till now it hath been building, and is not finished.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Then came this same Sassabasar, and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it is in building, and is not yet finished.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house ofGod which is at Jerusalem; and since that time even until now has it been in building, and it is not completed.
Context
With decree and instructions established (verses 13–15), verse 16 presents the on-the-ground result: foundations were laid, and the work has been ongoing but unfinished. This concludes the elders’ quoted defense. The final verse (17) will contain the officials’ request that Darius verify these claims in the archives and issue a ruling, keeping the process orderly and evidence-based.
v.15and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.
v.16This passage
v.17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 5:2
Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
- Haggai 1:12
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah.
- Ezra 3:10
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.
- Zechariah 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; these are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
- Ezra 6:15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
- Ezra 3:8
Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Jehovah.