Ezra 4:14

Ezra 4:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
• New International Version (NIV)Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,

Context of Ezra 4:14

12Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. 13Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

Ezra 4:14 word by word

כְּעַ֗ן כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָא֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא וְעַרְוַ֣ת מַלְכָּ֔א לָ֥א אֲֽרִֽיךְ לַ֖נָא לְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְמַלְכָּֽא׃Read the interlinear

• Nowכְּעַןke‛an · nowH3705
• becauseכֹּלkôl · allH3606
• becauseקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · before: becauseH6903
• we haveדִּיdîy · thatH1768
• maintenanceמְלַחmelach · saltH4416
• maintenanceמְלַחmelach · to eat saltH4415
• palaceהֵיכַלhêykal · temple: palaceH1965
• and it was notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
• meetאֲרִיךְ'ărak · be properH749
• for us to seeחֲזָהchăzâ' chăzâh · to seeH2370
• the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• dishonourעַרְוָה‛arvâh · dishonorH6173
• thereforeדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• thereforeעַל‛al · uponH5922
• have we sentשְׁלַחshelach · to sendH7972
• and certifiedיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046

Cross-references for Ezra 4:14

• Ezekiel 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
• John 12:5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
• John 19:12And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.

Commentaries on Ezra 4:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace - More literally: Now because at all times we are salted with the salt of the palace; i.e., We live on the king's bounty, and must be faithful to our benefactor. Salt was used as the emblem of an incorruptible covenant; and those who ate bread and salt together were considered as having entered into a very solemn covenant. These hypocrites intimated that they felt their conscience bound by the league…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14We have maintenance - See the margin. The phrase “to eat a man‘s salt” is common in the East to this day; and is applied not only to those who receive salaries, but to all who obtain their subsistence by means of another. The Persian satraps had no salaries, but taxed their provinces for the support of themselves and their courts.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. 14because we are in the service of the palace: the Aramaic phrase we eat the salt of the palace meant taking an oath of loyalty to the king. The letter's authors said they only wanted to protect the king's honor. However, they actually sought power and political advantage over the Jews.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. we have maintenance from the king's palace--literally, "we are salted with the salt of the palace." "Eating a prince's salt" is an Oriental phrase, equivalent to "receiving maintenance from him."Read the comment

Topics related to Ezra 4:14

• Accusation, False
• Artaxerxes
• Bishlam
• Persia

In the dictionaries

• Certify
• Chaldee language
• Chancellor
• Endamage
• Grow
• Hurt
• Insurrection
• Rehum
• Salt
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language

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