Ezra 4:1

Ezra 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel;
• New International Version (NIV)When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel,

Context of Ezra 4:1

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

Ezra 4:1 word by word

וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ צָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־בְנֵ֤י הַגּוֹלָה֙ בּוֹנִ֣ים הֵיכָ֔ל לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

• When the enemiesצַרtsar tsâr · enemyH6862
• of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• and Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
• the exilesבֵּןbên · son: type ofH1121
• the exilesגּוֹלָהgôlâh gôlâh · captivityH1473
• were buildingבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• a templeהֵיכָלhêykâl · templeH1964
• for the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Ezra 4:1

• Ezra 7:9He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.
• 1 Kings 5:4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.
• 1 Chronicles 22:9But a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and I will grant to Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
• Nehemiah 4:1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
• Daniel 9:25Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
• Ezra 1:11In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
• Ezra 6:16Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
• Ezra 10:7And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.
• Daniel 5:13So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?

Commentaries on Ezra 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now when the adversaries - These were the Samaritans, and the different nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants away into captivity, see Ezra 4:9, Ezra 4:10.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Adversaries - i. e., the Samaritans, a mixed race, partly Israelite but chiefly foreign, which had replaced to some extent the ancient inhabitants after they were carried into captivity by Sargon (see 2 Kings 17:6 note).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The adversaries of the temple. (1-5) The building of the temple is hindered. (6-24) Verses 1-5 Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. The adversaries were the Samaritans, who had been planted in the land of Israel, 2Ki 17. It was plain that they did not mean to unite in the worship of the Lord, according to his word. Let those who discourage a good work, and weaken them that are employed…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Judah and Benjamin: Most of the people who returned from exile were from these two tribes of Israel (Ezra 1:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-61. the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin--that is, strangers settled in the land of Israel.Read the comment

Topics related to Ezra 4:1

• Church
• Jeshua
• Joshua

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• God
• Israel
• Judah
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry

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