Shethar-boznai

Biblical Record

Shethar-boznai appears four times, all in Ezra 5–6. His name always immediately follows that of "Tatnai, governor on this side the river." The phrase "this side the river" (often rendered "Beyond the River") refers to the administrative province of the Persian Empire (Persia) that governed the region west of the Euphrates. Scripture does not state his title or origin.

• The people of Judah who had returned from exile were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest (Ezra 5:1-2). At that time Shethar-boznai came with Tatnai and their companions and asked who had commanded the work (Ezra 5:3).
• They did not halt the work immediately. Instead, they wrote to King Darius, asking that the royal archives be searched to determine whether King Cyrus had in fact issued a decree (Ezra 5:6-17). Scripture explains that the work continued because "the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews" (Ezra 5:5).
• After the decree was found, King Darius issued an order. He told the officials, "be ye far from thence," and directed that the costs of construction and of the sacrifices be paid from the king's revenue (Ezra 6:6-12).
• Shethar-boznai and Tatnai carried out the king's decree: "so they did speedily" (Ezra 6:13). The temple was completed in the sixth year of King Darius (Ezra 6:15).

Significance Within Scripture

Unlike the adversaries who obstructed the work in Ezra 4, Shethar-boznai and his party are portrayed as officials who verified the legal basis of the project and complied with the king's decision. Through this episode the Book of Ezra shows that the rebuilding of the temple took place within lawful Persian administrative procedures. At the same time, it interprets that process as the providence of God. The New Testament does not mention him.

Interpretations and Debates

• Interpreters generally regard him as an official serving under Tatnai. However, since the text does not specify his office, this is only conjecture.
• Readings differ on whether he was hostile to the people of Judah. Some sermons present him as someone who sought to obstruct the work, while other interpretations view him as a neutral official who followed proper procedure.
• The same event is recorded in the apocryphal book of 1 Esdras, where his name is reportedly given in a different form.
• The name is thought to be Persian, but its precise meaning is uncertain.

In the Korean Church

Shethar-boznai is rarely treated on his own. He is typically mentioned only briefly, alongside Tatnai, in sermons on the rebuilding of the temple based on Ezra 5–6 or on Haggai and Zechariah.