English Standard Version
Ezra 4:14
14Now 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,
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,
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.
Context of Ezra 4:14
12be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. 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, 15in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste. 16We 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."
Read all of Ezra 4Ezra 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 33:31And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
- John 12:5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"
- John 19:12From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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