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 returned exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.” 3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now when the adversariesצַרtsar tsâr · enemyH6862
• of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• and Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that the childrenבֵּןbên · son: type ofH1121
• of the captivityגּוֹלָהgôlâh gôlâh · captivityH1473
• buildedבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the templeהֵיכָלhêykâl · templeH1964
• unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Ezra 4:1

• Ezra 7:9He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him.
• 1 Kings 5:4The Lord my God has now given me rest on every side; there is no enemy or misfortune.
• 1 Chronicles 22:9But a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies, for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.
• Nehemiah 4:1When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews
• Daniel 9:25Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an Anointed One, the ruler, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me — yet many oppose me.
• Ezra 1:11The gold and silver articles totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
• Ezra 6:16Then the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
• Ezra 10:7They circulated a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.
• Daniel 5:13Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor 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