Ezra 4:21

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

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! 20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls. Therefore, 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.” 23When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.

Ezra 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

• Ezra 4:19I 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!

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

• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Persia

In the dictionaries

• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Darius
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt
• Insurrection
• Rehum
• Shimshai

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