Ezra 4:22

Ezra 4:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
• New International Version (NIV)Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

Context of Ezra 4:22

20There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the provinces west of the [Euphrates] River, and tax, custom, and toll were paid to them. 21So, now issue a decree to make these men stop [work], so that this city is not rebuilt until a [new] command is issued by me. Beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter. Why should damage increase to the detriment of the kings?” 23Then as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they went up hurriedly to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them stop [work] by force of arms. 24Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped. It was suspended until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 4:22 word by word

וּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה לְמָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔א לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Take heedזְהַרzehar · to take heedH2095
• Take heedהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
• now that ye failשָׁלוּshâlû shâlûth · neglectH7960
• not to doעֲבַד‛ăbad · to makeH5648
• not to doעַל‛al · uponH5922
• thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• whyמָהmâh · what?H4101
• should damageחֲבָלchăbal · harmH2257
• growשְׂגָאώegâ' · to grow greatH7680
• to the hurtנְזַקnezaq · to suffer injuryH5142
• of the kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430

Cross-references for Ezra 4:22

• Ezra 4:13Now let it be known to the king, that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, then they will not pay tax, custom, or toll, and the revenue of the kings will be diminished.
• Esther 3:8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered [abroad] and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore it is not in the king’s interest to [tolerate them and] let them stay here.
• Esther 7:3Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be spared as my petition, and my people [be spared] as my request;

Commentaries on Ezra 4:22

• 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 4:22

• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Persia

In the dictionaries

• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Darius
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt
• Insurrection
• Rehum
• Shimshai

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