Ezra 6:8

I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — King Darius addresses provincial governors and officials overseeing the Jewish exiles. He speaks at the moment of verifying the royal archives and commanding the immediate resumption of temple construction.

The words — The text highlights טְעֵם (te'Em), literally "a decree," and שִׂים (sim), meaning "it is made" or established. These terms frame the command as an irrevocable administrative order rather than a temporary suggestion.

The thread — This mandate to fund sacred work from state resources echoes Ezra 6:4, where construction costs are similarly paid from the royal treasury. It also anticipates Ezra 7:15, where the king provides silver and gold for temple offerings, reflecting Haggai 2:8's declaration that silver and gold belong to the LORD.

Why it lands — The verse requires readers to recognize that God's house is sustained by human authority and material provision. It demands compliance with the decree and trust that the work will proceed without obstruction.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּמִנִּי֮u./mi.N/iand/ from/ me שִׂ֣יםsimit is made טְעֵם֒te.'Ema decree לְמָ֣אle./Ma'to/ whatever דִֽי־di-that תַֽעַבְד֗וּןta.'av.Dunyou will do עִם־'im-with שָׂבֵ֤יsa.Vei[the] elders of יְהוּדָיֵא֙ye.hu.da.Ye/'Jews/ the אִלֵּ֔ךְ'i.Lekhthese לְמִבְנֵ֖אle./miv.Ne'to/ build בֵּית־beit-[the] house of אֱלָהָ֣א'e.la.Ha/'<the>/ God דֵ֑ךְDekhthis וּמִנִּכְסֵ֣יu./mi./nikh.Seiand/ from/ [the] properti<es> of מַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka/'king/ the דִּ֚יdiwhich מִדַּת֙mi.Dat[is] [the] tribute of עֲבַ֣ר'a.Var[the] region beyond נַהֲרָ֔הna.ha.Rah/'river/ the אָסְפַּ֗רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'diligently נִפְקְתָ֛אnif.ke.Ta/'expense/ the תֶּהֱוֵ֧אte.he.Ve'let it be מִֽתְיַהֲבָ֛אmit.ya.ha.Va'given לְגֻבְרַיָּ֥אle./guv.rai.Ya/'to/ men/ the אִלֵּ֖ךְ'i.Lekhthese דִּי־di-that לָ֥אla'not לְבַטָּלָֽא׃le./va.ta.La'to/ make to cease

King James Version

Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

Cross-references

Ezra 6:4 with three layers of cut stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid from the royal treasury.
Ezra 7:15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
Haggai 2:8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.
Ezra 4:16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
Ezra 4:20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
Ezra 4:23 When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.
Psalms 68:29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.