What Does Ezra 6:6 Mean?
Now therefore, Tatnai, governor across the river, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are across the river, be far from there.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:THE KEY
Here, protection takes the form of distance: those who could interfere are commanded to stay away from the work.
THE MEANING
This verse draws a clear boundary around the work of rebuilding: those who could interfere are told to keep their distance. The space around the work is part of its protection, allowing it to continue without intrusion.
THE ROOT
רְחִיקִין
reḥiqin
GROWS FROM
רחק
To be far or distant; to put something far away.
The Aramaic says to remain far from there, making distance an active boundary rather than a passing description. The same root can name being distant or putting something at a distance, so the work is protected by keeping interference away.
ALSO GROWS
raḥoq: Far, distant.
רָחוֹק
It names the distance that surrounds and protects the work.
hirḥiq: To put or keep far away.
הִרְחִיק
It shows the root can describe creating distance, as the command does here.
THE PATTERN
A needed boundary creates distance from interference so that good work can continue.
Let the work of this house of God go; let the governor of the Jews and the gray-haired ones of the Jews build this house of God in his place.In alignment you will be set firm. You will be far from the squeeze, for you will not fear, and far from shattering, for it will not draw near you.Now we pass along to you, brothers, in the nature of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, that you draw yourselves back from every brother who walks out of rank, and not according to the handing over you took from our hand.THE THREAD
In alignment you will be set firm. You will be far from the squeeze, for you will not fear, and far from shattering, for it will not draw near you.The word translated “far” comes from the same רחק (raḥaq) root as the Aramaic command here. Here, distance protects the work; in Isaiah, distance from oppression belongs to being established.
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