God’s hands guide faithful people to set a firm foundation, even when the work appears incomplete.
Then Ezra 5:16 states, “Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed.” (v.16) This verse describes how Sheshbazzar, a leader appointed under Persian authority, oversaw the earliest stages of restoring the temple. Jerusalem was located in the southern region of Judah, which had been conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BC and lay in ruins until King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jewish exiles to return beginning around 538 BC. Sheshbazzar’s work was the first step in a long process marked by repeated opposition and imperial review, as Persian rulers examined the original decree permitting the Jews to rebuild (Ezra 6:1-7).
Because the temple and its worship represented the heart of Jewish spiritual life, the task of rebuilding it carried immense cultural and religious importance. Although the foundation was laid, work soon stalled due to resistance from local adversaries and bureaucratic barriers (Ezra 4:24; Haggai 1:2). Ultimately, under the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, the people resumed construction (Ezra 5:1-2)and completed the temple in 516 BC, during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign (Ezra 6:15). But at the point described in Ezra 5:16, the building remained unfinished, suspended in the midst of political process and awaiting final authorization.
Sheshbazzar’s account in this verse reminds us that even when God’s people have permission to work, their commitment to faithfulness must endure many setbacks. It also highlights the importance of leadership in motivating others to persevere, trusting in the Lord’s favor and timing to fulfill the task at hand.
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Ezra 5:16 meaning
Then Ezra 5:16 states, “Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed.” (v.16) This verse describes how Sheshbazzar, a leader appointed under Persian authority, oversaw the earliest stages of restoring the temple. Jerusalem was located in the southern region of Judah, which had been conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BC and lay in ruins until King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jewish exiles to return beginning around 538 BC. Sheshbazzar’s work was the first step in a long process marked by repeated opposition and imperial review, as Persian rulers examined the original decree permitting the Jews to rebuild (Ezra 6:1-7).
Because the temple and its worship represented the heart of Jewish spiritual life, the task of rebuilding it carried immense cultural and religious importance. Although the foundation was laid, work soon stalled due to resistance from local adversaries and bureaucratic barriers (Ezra 4:24; Haggai 1:2). Ultimately, under the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, the people resumed construction (Ezra 5:1-2)and completed the temple in 516 BC, during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign (Ezra 6:15). But at the point described in Ezra 5:16, the building remained unfinished, suspended in the midst of political process and awaiting final authorization.
Sheshbazzar’s account in this verse reminds us that even when God’s people have permission to work, their commitment to faithfulness must endure many setbacks. It also highlights the importance of leadership in motivating others to persevere, trusting in the Lord’s favor and timing to fulfill the task at hand.