Ezra 4:22
in Ezra 4See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
KJV
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
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This verse in Ezra 4
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis 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
the royal interests to suffer
The king closes in the accusers' own terms. Verse 13 warned that the royal treasury would suffer, and here the king fears the royal interests will suffer. Matthew Henry reads their care for the king's honor as a cover for ill will toward the temple.
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.
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this,.... To put his orders into execution, and at once, without any loss of time, oblige the Jews to desist from rebuilding the walls of their city, which he was told they were doing, though a great falsehood: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? of him and his successors, to be deprived of their toll, tribute, and customs, and to have insurrections, mutinies, and rebellions, in the dominions belonging to them.
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
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּזְהִירִ֥ין | uzehirin | and cautious | H2095 → | |
| הֱו֛וֹ | hevo | be | H1934 → | 71 times |
| שָׁל֖וּ | shalu | negligence | H7960 → | |
| לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד | leme'bad | to do | H5648 → | 28 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | concerning | H5922 → | 104 times |
| דְּנָ֑ה | denah | this | H1836 → | 58 times |
| לְמָה֙ | lemah | <to> why? | H4101 → | 13 times |
| יִשְׂגֵּ֣א | yisge' | will it grow great | H7680 → | |
| חֲבָלָ֔א | chavala' | damage the | H2257 → | |
| לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת | lehanzakat | to injury | H5142 → | 4 times |
| מַלְכִֽין׃ ס | malkhin | kings | H4430 → | 180 times |
וּזְהִירִ֥יןand cautious
uzehirinH2095 →
הֱו֛וֹbe
hevoH1934 →71 times
שָׁל֖וּnegligence
shaluH7960 →
לְמֶעְבַּ֣דto do
leme'badH5648 →28 times
עַל־concerning
ʾal-H5922 →104 times
דְּנָ֑הthis
denahH1836 →58 times
לְמָה֙<to> why?
lemahH4101 →13 times
יִשְׂגֵּ֣אwill it grow great
yisge'H7680 →
חֲבָלָ֔אdamage the
chavala'H2257 →
לְהַנְזָקַ֖תto injury
lehanzakatH5142 →4 times
מַלְכִֽין׃ סkings
malkhinH4430 →180 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach 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 4:13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
it leads to
- Ezra 7:24
And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
- Nehemiah 5:4
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.
- Romans 13:6–7
This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
- Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
- Psalms 52:2
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
- Ezra 7:24
Where this verse is studied
About Ezra
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Berean Standard Bible, Ezra 4; 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.