New International Version
Ezra 4:17
17The 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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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
- 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
15so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed. 16We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates. 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. 18The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition.
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 4:7And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.
- Ezra 5:7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings.
- Ezra 7:12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
- Luke 10:5“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
- Acts 23:26Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
- Romans 1:7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ezra 4:10and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.
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
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