Ezra 4:16

Ezra 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
• New International Version (NIV)We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River."
• New King James Version (NKJV)We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.

Context of Ezra 4:16

14Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king 15that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates. 17Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings. 18The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

Ezra 4:16 word by word

מְהוֹדְעִ֤ין אֲנַ֙חְנָה֙ לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן לָקֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה חֲלָק֙ בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔א לָ֥א אִיתַ֖י לָֽךְ׃ פRead the interlinear

• Weאֲנַ֫חְנָא'ănachnâ' 'ănachnâh · weH586
• adviseיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• thatדִּיdîy · thatH1768
• ifהֵןhên · ifH2006
• thisדֵּךְdêk dâk · thisH1791
• cityקִרְיָהqiryâ' qiryâh · townH7149
• is rebuiltבְּנָהbenâ' benâh · to buildH1124
• and its wallsשׁוּרshûr · wallH7792
• are restoredכְּלַלkelal · to completeH3635
• are restoredקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · beforeH6903
• are restoredדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• you will haveאִיתַי'îythay · there isH383
• noלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
• dominionחֲלָקchălâq · portionH2508
• westעֲבַר‛ăbar · beyondH5675
• of the Euphratesנְהַרnehar · RiverH5103

Cross-references for Ezra 4:16

• Ezra 4:20And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
• 2 Samuel 8:3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.
• 1 Kings 4:24For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.

Commentaries on Ezra 4:16

• 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. 15-16The Persians had access to Babylonian records, which described Jerusalem’s revolts against Nebuchadnezzar (see 2 Kings 24:1–7). The claim that the Persians would lose the entire province west of the Euphrates was an exaggeration. The Jews were actually a small minority in that province.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 4:16

• Accusation, False
• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Persia

In the dictionaries

• Euphrates River, the River
• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt
• Insurrection
• Rehum
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language

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