Amplified Bible
Ezra 4:6
6Now in the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), in the beginning of his reign, the Samaritans wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem [who had returned from exile].
Ezra 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
- New International Version (NIV)At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Context of Ezra 4:6
4Then [the Samaritans and others of] the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them [to deter them] from building, 5and hired advisers [to work] against them to frustrate their plans during the entire time that Cyrus king of Persia reigned, [and this lasted] even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Now in the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), in the beginning of his reign, the Samaritans wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem [who had returned from exile]. 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. 8Rehum the [Persian] commander [of the Samaritans] and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows—
Read all of Ezra 4Ezra 4:6 word by word
וּבְמַלְכוּת֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת מַלְכוּת֑וֹ כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And in the reignמַלְכוּתmalkûth malkûth malkûyâh · royaltyH4438
- of Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325
- in the beginningתְּחִלָּהtechillâh · beginningH8462
- wroteכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
- an accusationשִׂטְנָהώiţnâh · accusationH7855
- against the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- and Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
Cross-references for Ezra 4:6
- Matthew 27:37And above His head they put the accusation against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
- Acts 24:5For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who instigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the [heretical] sect of the Nazarenes.
- Acts 25:7After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him which they were not able to prove,
- Revelation 12:10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night.
Commentaries on Ezra 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6In the reign of Ahasuerus - This is the person who is called Cambyses by the Greeks. He reigned seven years and five months; and during the whole of that time the building of the temple was interrupted.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Ahasuerus - Or, Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus. Persian kings had often two names.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. 6-23These verses discuss later opposition to Jewish rebuilding efforts. They actually relate to events during the reign of: Xerxes in 486 to 465 BC Artaxerxes I in 465 to 424 BC However, they are included here because they match the theme of opposition. Chronologically, Ezra 4:6 fits between chapters 6 and 7, while 4:7–23 fits before Nehemiah 1.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they ... an accusation--Ahasuerus was a regal title, and the king referred to was successor of Darius, the famous Xerxes.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezra 4:6
In the dictionaries
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
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