King James Version

What Does Ezra 5:10 Mean?

Ezra 5:10 in the King James Version says “We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. — study this verse from Ezra chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

Ezra 5:10 · KJV


Context

8

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. great: Chaldee, stones of rolling

9

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

10

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

11

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

12

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The officials requested names "to certify thee"—that is, to provide the king with documented accountability. The Aramaic lehodautakh (to inform you) indicates the letter's purpose was providing complete information for royal evaluation. Recording "the names of the men that were the chief of them" would enable the king to investigate the leaders' backgrounds and legitimacy.

This bureaucratic meticulousness, though threatening to the Jews, demonstrated Persian administrative thoroughness. Every significant project required identifiable leadership accountable to imperial authority. Yet God used this documentation requirement to establish the legitimacy of Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and other leaders—their names would be permanently recorded in both Persian archives and Scripture.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Persian administrative documents consistently recorded the names of responsible officials and project supervisors. The satrapies maintained extensive archives of correspondence, authorizations, and personnel records. This documentation served both administrative efficiency and imperial control, enabling the central government to track activities throughout the vast empire stretching from India to Egypt.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God use documentation and record-keeping to establish the legitimacy of His work across generations?
  2. What responsibility do church leaders have to maintain transparent, accountable records of their ministry activities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וְאַ֧ף1 of 11

also

H638

meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though

שֻׁם2 of 11

the names

H8036

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

שְׁאֵ֥לְנָא3 of 11

We asked

H7593

to ask

לְּהֹ֖ם4 of 11
H0
לְהוֹדָֽעוּתָ֑ךְ5 of 11

to certify

H3046

to inform

דִּ֛י6 of 11
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

נִכְתֻּ֥ב7 of 11

thee that we might write

H3790

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

שֻׁם8 of 11

the names

H8036

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

גֻּבְרַיָּ֖א9 of 11

of the men

H1400

a person

דִּ֥י10 of 11
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

בְרָֽאשֵׁיהֹֽם׃11 of 11

that were the chief

H7217

the head; figuratively, the sum


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezra. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezra 5:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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