Ezra 4:20

Ezra 4:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
• New International Version (NIV)Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls.

Context of Ezra 4:20

18The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. 19And I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. 21Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 22Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

Ezra 4:20 word by word

וּמַלְכִ֣ין תַּקִּיפִ֗ין הֲווֹ֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• There have beenהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
• mightyתַּקִּיףtaqqîyph · strongH8624
• kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• also overעַל‛al · uponH5922
• Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlêm · JerusalemH3390
• which have ruledשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
• over allכֹּלkôl · allH3606
• beyondעֲבַר‛ăbar · beyondH5675
• the riverנְהַרnehar · RiverH5103
• and tollמִנְדָּהmiddâh mindâh · tributeH4061
• tributeבְּלוֹbelô · tributeH1093
• and customהֲלָךְhălâk · tollH1983
• was paidיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052

Cross-references for Ezra 4:20

• 1 Kings 4:21So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
• 1 Chronicles 18:3And David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates.
• Psalms 72:8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.
• Ezra 4:16We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.
• Genesis 15:18On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
• Joshua 1:3Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
• 1 Chronicles 18:6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.
• 1 Chronicles 19:19And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. So the Syrians were not willing to help the people of Ammon anymore.
• 2 Chronicles 9:14besides what the traveling merchants and traders brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
• 2 Chronicles 17:11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
• 2 Chronicles 26:7God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.

Commentaries on Ezra 4:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Beyond the river - That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond this river. See 2 Samuel 8:3, etc., and 1 Kings 4:21, where it is said, Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines; and unto the borders of Egypt.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Mighty kings … - If this reference can scarcely have been to David or Solomon (see marginal reference), of whom neither the Babylonian nor the Assyrian archives would be likely to have had any account - it would probably be to Menahem 2 Kings 15:16 and Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:6-7; 2 Chronicles 35:18).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. 19-20King Jehoiakim, who ruled from 609 to 598 BC, rebelled against Babylon around 601 BC. King Zedekiah, ruling from 597 to 586 BC, rebelled around 588 BC (see 2 Kings 25:2).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 4:20

• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Persia

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Euphrates River, the River
• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Darius
• Endamage
• Governor
• Grow
• Hurt

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