Ezra 4:22

Ezra 4:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
• New International Version (NIV)Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

Context of Ezra 4:22

20There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid to them. 21Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another commandment shall be given from me. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the harm of the kings? 23Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 4:22 word by word

וּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה לְמָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔א לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין׃ סRead the interlinear

• heedהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
• heedזְהַרzehar · to take heedH2095
• failשָׁלוּshâlû shâlûth · neglectH7960
• doעַל‛al · uponH5922
• doעֲבַד‛ăbad · to makeH5648
• thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• whyמָהmâh · what?H4101
• damageחֲבָלchăbal · harmH2257
• growשְׂגָאώegâ' · to grow greatH7680
• harmנְזַקnezaq · to suffer injuryH5142
• kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430

Cross-references for Ezra 4:22

• Ezra 4:13Be it known now to the king, that, if this city shall be built, and the walls set up again, then they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt diminish the revenue of the kings.
• Esther 3:8And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are different from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain .
• Esther 7:3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it shall please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Commentaries on Ezra 4:22

• 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 4:22

• 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