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 learned that the former exiles were building a temple for the Lord God of Israel, 2they came to Zerubbabel and the leaders and said to them, “Let us help you build, for like you we seek your God and we have been sacrificing to him from the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the leaders of Israel said to them, “You have no right to help us build the temple of our God. We will build it by ourselves for the Lord God of Israel, just 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 7:9On the first day of the first month he had determined to make the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.
• 1 Kings 5:4But now the Lord my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat.
• 1 Chronicles 22:9Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
• Nehemiah 4:1(3:33) Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews,
• Daniel 9:25So know and understand: From the issuing of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a prince arrives, there will be a period of seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will again be built, with plaza and moat, but in distressful times.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.
• Ezra 1:11All these gold and silver vessels totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all along when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
• Ezra 6:16The people of Israel – the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles – observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy.
• Ezra 10:7A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem.
• Daniel 5:13So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father 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