Ezra 4:21
in Ezra 4Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
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.
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This verse in Ezra 4
Commentary
6 notes on this verseUntil 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.
This site's exposition
mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem
on Ezra 4:20-22
Artaxerxes recalls that mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and received tribute, duty, and toll. On that ground he orders the officials to stop these men and the building until he gives the order. The decree is provisional, and later chapters make good on that when the work resumes.
This site's exposition
issue an order for these men to stop
The order stops the rebuilding of the city. Matthew Henry reads it as aimed at the walling of the city. He charges Rehum and Shimshai with applying it in verse 23 to the temple, the house they held in ill will.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Interpreted - It was written in the Chaldee or Syrian language, and in the Syrian character: for sometimes the Chaldee or Syrian words are written in the Hebrew character. Asnapper - Either Esarhaddon, or some other person of eminency, who was captain of this colony, and conducted them hither.
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease,....
They spoke only of the city: "Let not that be built," that is, as a city with walls and gates; "whatever you do, prevent that, lest damage grow to the hurt of the kings: " he would not that the crown should lose by his wearing it.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כְּעַן֙ | kean | now | H3705 → | 13 times |
| שִׂ֣ימוּ | simu | make | H7761 → | 26 times |
| טְּעֵ֔ם | teem | a decree | H2942 → | 28 times |
| לְבַטָּלָ֖א | levatala' | to make to cease | H989 → | 6 times |
| גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א | guvraiya' | men the | H1400 → | 21 times |
| אִלֵּ֑ךְ | ʾilekh | these | H479 → | 14 times |
| וְקִרְיְתָ֥א | vekiryeta' | and city the | H7149 → | 9 times |
| דָךְ֙ | dokh | this | H1791 → | 13 times |
| לָ֣א | la' | not | H3809 → | 82 times |
| תִתְבְּנֵ֔א | titbene' | it will be built | H1124 → | 22 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5705 → | 35 times |
| מִנִּ֖י | mini | from me | H4481 → | 109 times |
| טַעְמָ֥א | ta'ma' | decree the | H2942 → | 28 times |
| יִתְּשָֽׂם׃ | yitesam | it will be made | H7761 → | 26 times |
כְּעַן֙now
keanH3705 →13 times
שִׂ֣ימוּmake
simuH7761 →26 times
טְּעֵ֔םa decree
teemH2942 →28 times
לְבַטָּלָ֖אto make to cease
levatala'H989 →6 times
גֻּבְרַיָּ֣אmen the
guvraiya'H1400 →21 times
אִלֵּ֑ךְthese
ʾilekhH479 →14 times
וְקִרְיְתָ֥אand city the
vekiryeta'H7149 →9 times
דָךְ֙this
dokhH1791 →13 times
לָ֣אnot
la'H3809 →82 times
תִתְבְּנֵ֔אit will be built
titbene'H1124 →22 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5705 →35 times
מִנִּ֖יfrom me
miniH4481 →109 times
טַעְמָ֥אdecree the
ta'ma'H2942 →28 times
יִתְּשָֽׂם׃it will be made
yitesamH7761 →26 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
Where this verse is studied
About Ezra
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.