Ezra 4:17

Ezra 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
• New International Version (NIV)The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now
• New King James Version (NKJV)The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.

Context of Ezra 4:17

15You should look for the books where your ancestors recorded news about Jerusalem. Then you will read many bad things about this city. You will see that its people have always turned against their rulers. Since long ago, they have not obeyed the kings or the region's officers. It is because they are so wicked that Babylon's army destroyed the city. 16So we are telling the king that you should not let these people build up this city again, with its walls. If they do that, you will no longer have any authority in this region that is west of the Euphrates river.’ The king of Persia sent this reply: ‘To Rehum, my ruler, Shimshai, his officer, and all their friends in Samaria and in other parts of the region west of the Euphrates river. I thank you for your news. 18People have translated the letter that you sent to me. They read it for me to listen to. 19Then I commanded them to look in the old books. I have seen what the books say about Jerusalem. It is true that its people have always turned against the kings that ruled them. Since long ago, they have never obeyed their rulers.

Ezra 4:17 word by word

פִּתְגָמָ֞א שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְכָּ֗א עַל־רְח֤וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵם֙ וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• sentשְׁלַחshelach · to sendH7972
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• an answerפִּתְגָםpithgâm · edictH6600
• untoעַל‛al · uponH5922
• Rehumרְחוּםrechûm · RehumH7348
• the chancellorטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
• the chancellorבְּעֵלbe‛êl · ownerH1169
• Shimshaiשִׁמְשַׁיshimshay · ShimshaiH8124
• the scribeסָפִרsâphêr · scribeH5613
• the restשְׁאָרshe'âr · remainderH7606
• of their companionsכְּנָתkenâth · associateH3675
• that dwellיְתִבyethib · to dwellH3488
• in Samariaשׇֽׁמְרָ֑יִןshomrayin · SamariaH8115
• beyondעֲבַר‛ăbar · beyondH5675
• the riverנְהַרnehar · RiverH5103
• Peaceשְׁלָםshelâm · peaceH8001
• and at such a timeכְּעֶ֫נֶתke‛eneth ke‛eth · nowH3706

Cross-references for Ezra 4:17

• Ezra 4:7Later, when Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and their friends wrote a letter to him. They wrote it in the Aramaic language. People translated it for the king to understand.
• Ezra 5:7This is what they said: King Darius, we hope that you are well.
• Ezra 7:12‘From Artaxerxes, king of all kings. To Ezra the priest, who has studied very well the law of the God of heaven. I hope that you are well.
• Luke 10:5In each town, when you go into a house, first say to the people who live there, “We pray that all will be well with you!”
• Acts 23:26‘I, Claudius Lysias, write this letter. I say “hello” to you, Felix, our great ruler.
• Romans 1:7So I am writing to all you Christians who are in Rome. God loves you and he has chosen you to be his own people. I pray that God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to help you. I pray that they will give you peace in your minds.
• Ezra 4:10It also comes from people of other nations who came to live in Samaria's cities. The great King Ashurbanipal sent those people to live in Samaria and in the region that is on the west side of the River Euphrates.

Commentaries on Ezra 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Peace, and at such a time - The word וכעת ucheeth is like that which we have already considered on Ezra 4:10, and probably has the same meaning.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. 11-22Ezra contains a copy in Aramaic of the letter sent to Artaxerxes and his response.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 4:17

• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Chancellor
• Persia
• Rehum
• Shimshai

In the dictionaries

• Samaria
• Euphrates River, the River
• Samaria, Samaritan
• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Darius
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt

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