English Standard Version
Ezra 4:17
17The 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
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then King Artaxerxes sent this reply: “To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the court secretary, and their colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the province west of the Euphrates River. Greetings.
Context of Ezra 4:17
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." 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 18the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.
Read all of Ezra 4Ezra 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 4:7In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.
- Ezra 5:7They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: "To Darius the king, all peace.
- Ezra 7:12"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now
- Luke 10:5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'
- Acts 23:26"Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
- Romans 1:7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ezra 4:10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River.
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
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
Commentaries