But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

EZRA 5:5KJV
Know the Bible

Ezra 5:5 (KJV)

What does Ezra 5:5 mean?

Ezra 5:5 says that God watched over the Jewish elders while the rebuilding of the temple was under challenge. The officials did not stop the work while the matter was referred to King Darius and an answer was sought by letter.

“The eye of their God” pictures God’s watchful care over the elders, the community’s leaders. After the officials questioned the builders in the preceding verses, Ezra 5:5 tells the reader why the inquiry did not bring the work to a halt.

The Aramaic behind Ezra 5:5

  • “eye” — עַיִן (ʿayin): This word means an eye. Here, the image presents God as watching over the elders rather than leaving them unnoticed.
  • “matter” — טְעֵם (ṭeʿem): This word can refer to a matter or report. Here, it points to the issue being sent to the king for consideration.

Why Ezra 5:5 matters

  • The officials’ inquiry did not itself settle whether the building could continue. Ezra 5:5 places the decision before Darius, the Persian king, while the work went on.
  • The letter was part of an official process, not merely a private complaint. In the following verses, the officials write to Darius about the building and report the builders’ claim that an earlier king had authorized it.
  • The elders remain central to the account even though others are involved in the building. The verse identifies them as the people over whom “the eye of their God” rested.

Where else these words appear

“came” Hebrew H1946 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 6:5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
  • Ezra 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

“letter” Hebrew H5407 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 4:18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
  • Ezra 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

“eye” Hebrew H5870 · used in 4 verses

  • Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
  • Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
  • Daniel 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

“elders” Hebrew H7868 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezra 5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
  • Ezra 6:7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
  • Ezra 6:8 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.