Ezra 4:17

Ezra 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
• New International Version (NIV)The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now
• New King James Version (NKJV)The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.

Context of Ezra 4:17

15in order that a search may be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books and learn that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and provinces, and that in the past they have incited rebellion within it. That is why that city was laid waste (destroyed). 16We are informing the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls finished, it will mean that you will have no possession in the province west of the [Euphrates] River.” Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the [Persian] commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces west of the River: “Peace (Greetings). And now, 18The document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me. 19I have issued a command and a search has been made, and it has been discovered that this city [Jerusalem] in earlier times has revolted against the kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been perpetrated in it.

Ezra 4:17 word by word

פִּתְגָמָ֞א שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְכָּ֗א עַל־רְח֤וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵם֙ וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• sentשְׁלַחshelach · to sendH7972
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• an answerפִּתְגָםpithgâm · edictH6600
• untoעַל‛al · uponH5922
• Rehumרְחוּםrechûm · RehumH7348
• the chancellorטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
• the chancellorבְּעֵלbe‛êl · ownerH1169
• Shimshaiשִׁמְשַׁיshimshay · ShimshaiH8124
• the scribeסָפִרsâphêr · scribeH5613
• the restשְׁאָרshe'âr · remainderH7606
• of their companionsכְּנָתkenâth · associateH3675
• that dwellיְתִבyethib · to dwellH3488
• in Samariaשׇֽׁמְרָ֑יִןshomrayin · SamariaH8115
• beyondעֲבַר‛ăbar · beyondH5675
• the riverנְהַרnehar · RiverH5103
• Peaceשְׁלָםshelâm · peaceH8001
• and at such a timeכְּעֶ֫נֶתke‛eneth ke‛eth · nowH3706

Cross-references for Ezra 4:17

• Ezra 4:7Later, in the days of [King] Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the text of the letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic.
• Ezra 5:7They sent a report to him in which it was written: “To Darius the king, all peace.
• Ezra 7:12“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfect peace (greetings). And now
• Luke 10:5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God] to this house.’
• Acts 23:26“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
• Romans 1:7[I am writing] to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints (God’s people) and set apart for a sanctified life, [that is, set apart for God and His purpose]: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Ezra 4:10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the region west of the [Euphrates] River. Now

Commentaries on Ezra 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Peace, and at such a time - The word וכעת ucheeth is like that which we have already considered on Ezra 4:10, and probably has the same meaning.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-24Verses 6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-22Ezra contains a copy in Aramaic of the letter sent to Artaxerxes and his response.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-247. in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, &c.--The three officers named are supposed to have been deputy governors appointed by the king of Persia over all the provinces subject to his empire west of the Euphrates. the Syrian tongue--or Aramæan language, called sometimes in our version, Chaldee. This was made use of by the Persians in their decrees and communications relative to the Jews (compare 2Ki 18:26; Is 36:11). The object of their letter was to…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezra 4:17

• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Chancellor
• Persia
• Rehum
• Shimshai

In the dictionaries

• Samaria
• Euphrates River, the River
• Samaria, Samaritan
• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Darius
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt

Commentaries on Ezra 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings