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Ezra 4:12

in Ezra 4

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.

KJV

Be 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.

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This verse in Ezra 4

Commentary

1 note on this verse

This site's exposition

This is the copy of

on Ezra 4:11-13

The text now quotes the letter itself, opening with the formula that marks official correspondence through this section, Thy servants the men on this side the river. The charge is specific: the Jews are building the rebellious and the bad city, setting up its walls and joining its foundations, and if the work continues Jerusalem will stop paying toll, tribute and custom. The accusers argue from the crown's revenue, framing a rebuilt wall as a threat to Persian income.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

Let it be known to the king Let it be a known thing to the king.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Ezra 4:12:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
This is the meaning of the letter and this is the interpretation of the letter.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Ezra 4:11:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

20 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • יְדִ֙יעַ֙known

    yedia'H3046 →47 times

  • לֶהֱוֵ֣אlet it be

    leheve'H1934 →71 times

  • לְמַלְכָּ֔אto king the

    lemalka'H4430 →180 times

  • דִּ֣יthat

    diH1768 →345 times

  • יְהוּדָיֵ֗אJews the

    yehudaye'H3062 →10 times

  • דִּ֤יwho

    diH1768 →345 times

  • סְלִ֙קוּ֙they came up

    selikuH5559 →

  • מִן־from

    min-H4481 →109 times

  • לְוָתָ֔ךְbeside you

    levatakhH3890 →

  • עֲלֶ֥ינָאto us

    ʾaleina'H5922 →104 times

  • אֲת֖וֹthey have come

    ʾatoH858 →16 times

  • לִירוּשְׁלֶ֑םto Jerusalem

    lirushelemH3390 →26 times

  • קִרְיְתָ֨אcity the

    kiryeta'H7149 →9 times

  • מָֽרָדְתָּ֤א<the> rebellious

    maradeta'H4779 →

  • וּבִֽישְׁתָּא֙and evil <the>

    uviyosheta'H873 →

  • בָּנַ֔יִן[they are] building

    banayinH1124 →22 times

  • וְשׁוּרַיָּ֣אand walls the

    veshuraiya'H7792 →3 times

  • שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּthey have finished

    shakhliluH3635 →7 times

  • וְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖אand foundations the

    veushaiya'H787 →3 times

  • יַחִֽיטוּ׃they are repairing

    yachituH2338 →

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Chronicles 36:13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.3 worksEzra 5:3At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”3 worksEzra 5:9So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”3 worksEzra 4:15that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.3 worksNehemiah 6:6that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,3 worksPsalms 48:1–2Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.2 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Ezra 4:19I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.2 works2 Kings 18:20You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?2 worksLuke 23:2–5And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”2 worksDaniel 9:25Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.2 worksLuke 13:34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!2 works1 Peter 2:13–15Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,2 worksActs 24:5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,2 worksJeremiah 52:3For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.2 works1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.2 works2 Kings 24:1During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.2 worksNehemiah 1:3And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”2 worksEzekiel 17:12–21“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ezra 5:3

    At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

    it leads to

    • Ezra 6:6

      Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!

    • Ezra 5:9

      So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

    • Ezra 1:3

      Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is…

    • Ezra 6:13

      In response, Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed.

  • Through

    2 Chronicles 36:13

    He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.

    it leads to

    • Jeremiah 52:2–3

      And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

    • 2 Chronicles 30:8

      Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger…

    • Ezekiel 17:11–20

      Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

  • Through

    Ezra 4:19

    I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

    it leads to

    • 2 Kings 18:7

      And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.

About Ezra

Ezra Kneels in Prayer, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezra Kneels in Prayer, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezra: the study guide →Read Ezra 4 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and W. F. Adeney, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (Expositor's Bible).

Read on in Ezra 4 →