New English Translation
Ezra 4:14
14In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information
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
12Now let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 13Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury will suffer loss. In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information 15so that he may initiate a search of the records of his predecessors and discover in those records that this city is rebellious and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago. It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 16We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”
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 33:31They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.
- John 12:5“Why wasn’t this oil sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?”
- John 19:12From this point on, Pilate tried to release him. But the Jewish leaders shouted out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be 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
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