New English Translation
Ezra 4:21
21Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.
Ezra 4:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
- New International Version (NIV)Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.
Context of Ezra 4:21
19So I gave orders, and it was determined that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in rebellion and revolt. 20Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates and who were the beneficiaries of tribute, custom, and toll. Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. 22Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?” 23Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them with threat of armed force.
Read all of Ezra 4Ezra 4:21 word by word
כְּעַן֙ שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם לְבַטָּלָ֖א גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֑ךְ וְקִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ לָ֣א תִתְבְּנֵ֔א עַד־מִנִּ֖י טַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Giveשׂוּםώûm · to set: makeH7761
- ye nowכְּעַןke‛an · nowH3705
- commandmentטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
- to causeבְּטֵלbeţêl · to ceaseH989
- theseאִלֵּךְ'illêk · theseH479
- menגְּבַרgebar · manH1400
- and that thisדֵּךְdêk dâk · thisH1791
- cityקִרְיָהqiryâ' qiryâh · townH7149
- be notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- buildedבְּנָהbenâ' benâh · to buildH1124
- untilעַד‛ad · tillH5705
- commandmentטְעֵםţa‛am · accountH2941
- from meמִן־min · fromH4481
Cross-references for Ezra 4:21
Commentaries on Ezra 4:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Until another commandment shall be given from me - The rebuilding was only provisionally suspended. The decree was, Let it cease for the present; nor let it proceed at any time without an order express from me.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. 21Work on the walls stopped until 445 BC. Nehemiah, who served as Artaxerxes’ cup-bearer, received permission to restart the reconstruction (see Nehemiah 2:1–6).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 4:21
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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