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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Ezra 4:20

18“The letter you sent has been translated and read to me. 19I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there! Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls. 21Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command. 22Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king’s interests.”

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 4:21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.
• 1 Chronicles 18:3David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, as far as Hamath, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.
• Psalms 72:8May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
• Ezra 4:16We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.”
• Genesis 15:18So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—
• Joshua 1:3I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—
• 1 Chronicles 18:6Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
• 1 Chronicles 19:19When Hadadezer’s allies saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to David and became his subjects. After that, the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.
• 2 Chronicles 9:14This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the provinces also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
• 2 Chronicles 17:11Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
• 2 Chronicles 26:7God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur, and his wars with 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