Ezra 4:14

Ezra 4:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
• New International Version (NIV)Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,

Context of Ezra 4:14

12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer. Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king 15that a search should be made in your predecessors’ record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.

Ezra 4:14 word by word

כְּעַ֗ן כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָא֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא וְעַרְוַ֣ת מַלְכָּ֔א לָ֥א אֲֽרִֽיךְ לַ֖נָא לְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְמַלְכָּֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nowכְּעַןke‛an · nowH3705
• becauseכֹּלkôl · allH3606
• becauseקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · before: becauseH6903
• we haveדִּיdîy · thatH1768
• maintenanceמְלַחmelach · saltH4416
• maintenanceמְלַחmelach · to eat saltH4415
• palaceהֵיכַלhêykal · temple: palaceH1965
• and it was notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
• meetאֲרִיךְ'ărak · be properH749
• for us to seeחֲזָהchăzâ' chăzâh · to seeH2370
• the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• dishonourעַרְוָה‛arvâh · dishonorH6173
• thereforeדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• thereforeעַל‛al · uponH5922
• have we sentשְׁלַחshelach · to sendH7972
• and certifiedיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046

Cross-references for Ezra 4:14

• Ezekiel 33:31So my people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.
• John 12:5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
• John 19:12From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

Commentaries on Ezra 4:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace - More literally: Now because at all times we are salted with the salt of the palace; i.e., We live on the king's bounty, and must be faithful to our benefactor. Salt was used as the emblem of an incorruptible covenant; and those who ate bread and salt together were considered as having entered into a very solemn covenant. These hypocrites intimated that they felt their conscience bound by the league…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14We have maintenance - See the margin. The phrase “to eat a man‘s salt” is common in the East to this day; and is applied not only to those who receive salaries, but to all who obtain their subsistence by means of another. The Persian satraps had no salaries, but taxed their provinces for the support of themselves and their courts.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. 14because we are in the service of the palace: the Aramaic phrase we eat the salt of the palace meant taking an oath of loyalty to the king. The letter's authors said they only wanted to protect the king's honor. However, they actually sought power and political advantage over the Jews.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. we have maintenance from the king's palace--literally, "we are salted with the salt of the palace." "Eating a prince's salt" is an Oriental phrase, equivalent to "receiving maintenance from him."Read the comment

Topics related to Ezra 4:14

• Accusation, False
• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Persia

In the dictionaries

• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt
• Insurrection
• Rehum
• Salt
• 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