Ezra 4 עֶזְרָא פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Ezra 4 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיִּשְׁמְעוּvay/yish/me/Uand they heardצָרֵיtsa/REthe adversaries ofיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahוּבִנְיָמִןu/Vin/ya/MINand Benjaminכִּי־בְנֵיki-ve/NEthat the children ofהַגּוֹלָהhag/go/LAthe exileבּוֹנִיםbo/NIMwere buildingהֵיכָלhe/KHALthe templeלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaifor the LORDאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEthe God ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

   Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2. 2

   וַיִּגְּשׁוּvay/yig/ge/SHUthen they cameאֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶלel-Ze/rub/ba/VELto Zerubbabelוְאֶל־רָאשֵׁיve/EL-ra/SHEand to the heads ofהָאָבוֹתha/a/VOTthe fathersוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלָהֶםla/HEMto themנִבְנֶהniv/NElet us buildעִמָּכֶםim/ma/KHEMwith youכִּיkiforכָכֶםkha/KHEMas you doנִדְרוֹשׁnid/ROSHwe seekלֵאלֹהֵיכֶםle/lo/he/KHEMyour God(ולא)val[וְלוֹ]ve/LOand to Himאֲנַחְנוּa/NACH/nuweזֹבְחִיםzov/CHIMhave sacrificedמִימֵיMI/mefrom the days ofאֵסַרE/SAREsar-חַדֹּןchad/DONhaddonמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofאַשּׁוּרAsh/SHURAssyriaהַמַּעֲלֶהham/ma/a/LEwho broughtאֹתָנוּo/TA/nuusפֹּה׃pohere

   Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלָהֶםla/HEMto themזְרֻבָּבֶלZe/rub/ba/VELZerubbabelוְיֵשׁוּעַve/Ye/SHU/aand Jeshuaוּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofרָאשֵׁיra/SHEthe heads ofהָאָבוֹתha/a/VOTthe fathersלְיִשְׂרָאֵלle/Yis/ra/ELof Israelלֹא־לָכֶםlo-la/KHEMnot to youוָלָנוּva/LA/nuand to usלִבְנוֹתliv/NOTto buildבַּיִתBA/yita houseלֵאלֹהֵינוּle/lo/HE/nufor our Godכִּיkibutאֲנַחְנוּa/NACH/nuweיַחַדYA/chadtogetherנִבְנֶהniv/NEwe will buildלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaifor the LORDאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEthe God ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasצִוָּנוּtsiv/VA/nuhas commanded usהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingכּוֹרֶשׁKO/reshCyrusמֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס׃ME/lekh-Pa/RASthe king of Persia

   But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4. 4

   וַיְהִיvay/HIthenעַם־הָאָרֶץam-ha/A/retsthe people of the landמְרַפִּיםme/rap/PIMweakenedיְדֵיye/DEthe hands ofעַם־יְהוּדָהam-Ye/hu/DAthe people of Judah(ומבלהים)vamavalahayam[וּמְבַהֲלִים]u/me/va/ha/LIMand troubledאוֹתָםo/TAMthemלִבְנוֹת׃liv/NOTin building

   Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5. 5

   וְסֹכְרִיםve/sokh/RIMand hiredעֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMagainst themיוֹעֲצִיםyo/a/TSIMcounselorsלְהָפֵרle/ha/FERto frustrateעֲצָתָםa/tsa/TAMtheir purposeכׇּל־יְמֵיkol-ye/MEall the days ofכּוֹרֶשׁKO/reshCyrusמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofפָּרַסPa/RASPersiaוְעַד־מַלְכוּתve/AD-mal/KHUTand until the reign ofדָּרְיָוֶשׁDa/re/YA/veshDariusמֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס׃ME/lekh-Pa/RASthe king of Persia

   And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6. 6

   וּבְמַלְכוּתu/ve/mal/KHUTand in the reign ofאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusבִּתְחִלַּתbit/chil/LATin the beginning ofמַלְכוּתוֹmal/khu/TOhis reignכָּתְבוּka/te/VUthey wroteשִׂטְנָהsit/NAan accusationעַל־יֹשְׁבֵיal-yosh/VEagainst the inhabitants ofיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahוִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Vi/ru/sha/LA/yimand Jerusalem

   And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7. 7

   וּבִימֵיu/vi/MEand in the days ofאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּאAr/tach/SHAS/taArtaxerxesכָּתַבka/TAVwroteבִּשְׁלָםBish/LAMBishlamמִתְרְדָתMit/re/DATMithredathטָבְאֵלTa/ve/ELTabeelוּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofכְּנָוֺתָוke/na/vo/TAVhis companionsעַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאal-Ar/tach/SHAS/teto ArtaxerxesמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofפָּרָסPa/RASPersiaוּכְתָבu/khe/TAVand the writing ofהַנִּשְׁתְּוָןhan/nish/te/VANthe letterכָּתוּבka/TUVwas writtenאֲרָמִיתA/ra/MITin Aramaicוּמְתֻרְגָּםu/me/tur/GAMand translatedאֲרָמִית׃A/ra/MITin Aramaic

   And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

8. 8

   רְחוּםRe/CHUMRehumבְּעֵל־טְעֵםbe/EL-te/EMthe commanderוְשִׁמְשַׁיve/Shim/SHAYand Shimshaiסָפְרָאsa/fe/RAthe scribeכְּתַבוּke/TA/vuwroteאִגְּרָהig/ge/RAa letterחֲדָהcha/DAoneעַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶםal-Ye/rush/LEMagainst Jerusalemלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאle/Ar/tach/SHAS/teto Artaxerxesמַלְכָּאmal/KAthe kingכְּנֵמָא׃ke/NE/maas follows

   Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9. 9

   אֱדַיִןe/DA/yinthenרְחוּםRe/CHUMRehumבְּעֵל־טְעֵםbe/EL-te/EMthe commanderוְשִׁמְשַׁיve/Shim/SHAYand Shimshaiסָפְרָאsa/fe/RAthe scribeוּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofכְּנָוָתְהוֹןke/na/va/te/HONtheir companionsדִּינָיֵאDi/na/YEthe Dinaitesוַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵאva/A/far/sat/kha/YEand the ApharsathchitesטַרְפְּלָיֵאTar/pe/la/YEthe TarpelitesאֲפָרְסָיֵאA/fa/re/sa/YEthe Apharsites(ארכוי)rakhavay[אַרְכֳּוָיֵא]Ar/ko/va/YEthe ArchevitesבָבְלָיֵאVa/ve/la/YEthe BabyloniansשׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵאShu/shan/kha/YEthe Susanchites(דהוא)dahav[דֶּהָיֵא]De/ha/YEthe Dehavitesעֵלְמָיֵא׃El/ma/YEthe Elamites

   Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10. 10

    וּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofאֻמַּיָּאum/may/YAthe nationsדִּיdiwhomהַגְלִיhag/LIdeportedאׇסְנַפַּרOs/nap/PARAsnapperרַבָּאrab/BAthe greatוְיַקִּירָאve/yak/ki/RAand nobleוְהוֹתֵבve/ho/TEVand settledהִמּוֹhim/MOthemבְּקִרְיָהbe/kir/YAin the cityדִּיdiofשָׁמְרָיִןSha/me/RA/yinSamariaוּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofעֲבַר־נַהֲרָהa/VAR-na/ha/RAthe region beyond the riverוּכְעֶנֶת׃u/khe/E/netand now

    And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

11. 11

    דְּנָהde/NAthis isפַּרְשֶׁגֶןpar/SHE/genthe copy ofאִגַּרְתָּאig/gar/TAthe letterדִּיdithatשְׁלַחוּshe/LA/chuthey sentעֲלוֹהִיa/LO/hito himעַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאal-Ar/tach/SHAS/teto Artaxerxesמַלְכָּאmal/KAthe king(עבדיך)vadayakh[עַבְדָךְ]av/DAKHyour servantsאֱנָשׁe/NASHthe men ofעֲבַר־נַהֲרָהa/VAR-na/ha/RAthe region beyond the riverוּכְעֶנֶת׃u/khe/E/netand now

    This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

12. 12

    יְדִיעַye/DI/aknownלֶהֱוֵאle/he/VElet it beלְמַלְכָּאle/mal/KAto the kingדִּיdithatיְהוּדָיֵאYe/hu/da/YEthe Jewsדִּיdiwhoסְלִקוּse/LI/kucame upמִן־לְוָתָךְmin-le/va/TAKHfrom youעֲלֶינָאa/LE/nato usאֲתוֹa/TOhave comeלִירוּשְׁלֶםlI/rush/LEMto Jerusalemקִרְיְתָאkir/ye/TAthe cityמָרָדְתָּאma/rod/TArebelliousוּבִאישְׁתָּאu/viysh/TAand wickedבָּנַיִןba/NA/yinare building(ושורי)vashavaray[וְשׁוּרַיָּא]ve/shu/ray/YAand the walls(אשכללו)shakhalalav[שַׁכְלִילוּ]shakh/LI/luthey have finishedוְאֻשַּׁיָּאve/ush/shay/YAand the foundationsיַחִיטוּ׃ya/CHI/tuthey are joining

    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.

13. 13

    כְּעַןke/ANnowיְדִיעַye/DI/aknownלֶהֱוֵאle/he/VElet it beלְמַלְכָּאle/mal/KAto the kingדִּיdithatהֵןhenifקִרְיְתָאkir/ye/TAthe cityדָךְdakhthisתִּתְבְּנֵאtit/be/NEis builtוְשׁוּרַיָּאve/shu/ray/YAand the wallsיִשְׁתַּכְלְלוּןyish/takh/le/LUNare finishedמִנְדָּה־בְלוֹmin/DA-ve/LOtribute customוַהֲלָךְva/ha/LAKHand tollלָאlanotיִנְתְּנוּןyin/te/NUNwill they payוְאַפְּתֹםve/ap/pe/TOMand in the endמַלְכִיםmal/KHIMthe kingsתְּהַנְזִק׃te/han/ZIKit will damage

    Be 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.

14. 14

    כְּעַןke/ANnowכׇּל־קֳבֵלkol-ko/VELbecauseדִּי־מְלַחdi-me/LACHthat the salt ofהֵיכְלָאhe/khe/LAthe palaceמְלַחְנָאme/LACH/nawe eatוְעַרְוַתve/ar/VATand the dishonor ofמַלְכָּאmal/KAthe kingלָאlanotאֲרִיךְ־לַנָאa/RIKH-LA/nais fitting for usלְמֶחֱזֵאle/me/che/ZEto seeעַל־דְּנָהal-de/NAthereforeשְׁלַחְנָאshe/LACH/nawe have sentוְהוֹדַעְנָאve/ho/DA/naand we have made knownלְמַלְכָּא׃le/mal/KAto the king

    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;

15. 15

    דִּיdithatיְבַקַּרye/vak/KARsearch may be madeבִּסְפַר־דׇּכְרָנַיָּאbis/FAR-dokh/ra/nay/YAin the book of the recordsדִּיdiofאֲבָהָתָךְa/va/ha/TAKHyour fathersוּתְהַשְׁכַּחu/te/hash/KACHand you will findבִּסְפַרbis/FARin the book ofדׇּכְרָנַיָּאdokh/ra/nay/YAthe recordsוְתִנְדַּעve/tin/DAand knowדִּיdithatקִרְיְתָאkir/ye/TAthe cityדָךְdakhthisקִרְיָאkir/YAis a cityמָרָדָאma/ra/DArebelliousוּמְהַנְזְקַתu/me/han/ze/KATand injuringמַלְכִיןmal/KHINkingsוּמְדִנָןu/me/di/NANand provincesוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּרve/esh/tad/DURand seditionעָבְדִיןa/ve/DINthey have madeבְּגַוַּהּbe/gav/VAin its midstמִן־יוֹמָתmin-yo/MATsince the days ofעָלְמָאa/le/MAoldעַל־דְּנָהal-de/NAfor which causeקִרְיְתָאkir/ye/TAthe cityדָךְdakhthisהׇחָרְבַת׃ho/cha/re/VATwas laid waste

    That 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.

16. 16

    מְהוֹדְעִיןme/hod/INmake knownאֲנַחְנָהa/NACH/naweלְמַלְכָּאle/mal/KAto the kingדִּיdithatהֵןhenifקִרְיְתָאkir/ye/TAthe cityדָךְdakhthisתִּתְבְּנֵאtit/be/NEis builtוְשׁוּרַיָּהve/shu/ray/YAand the wallsיִשְׁתַּכְלְלוּןyish/takh/le/LUNare finishedלׇקֳבֵלlo/ko/VELby this meansדְּנָהde/NAthisחֲלָקcha/LAKportionבַּעֲבַרba/a/VARin the region beyondנַהֲרָאna/ha/RAthe riverלָאlanoאִיתַיi/TAYthere will beלָךְ׃lakhto you

    We 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.

17. 17

    פִּתְגָמָאpit/ga/MAan answerשְׁלַחshe/LACHsentמַלְכָּאmal/KAthe kingעַל־רְחוּםal-Re/CHUMto Rehumבְּעֵל־טְעֵםbe/EL-te/EMthe commanderוְשִׁמְשַׁיve/Shim/SHAYand Shimshaiסָפְרָאsa/fe/RAthe scribeוּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofכְּנָוָתְהוֹןke/na/va/te/HONtheir companionsדִּיdiwhoיָתְבִיןya/te/VINdwellבְּשָׁמְרָיִןbe/Sha/me/RA/yinin Samariaוּשְׁאָרu/she/ARand the rest ofעֲבַר־נַהֲרָהa/VAR-na/ha/RAthe region beyond the riverשְׁלָםshe/LAMpeaceוּכְעֶת׃u/khe/ETand now

    Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18. 18

    נִשְׁתְּוָנָאnish/te/va/NAthe letterדִּיdithatשְׁלַחְתּוּןshe/lach/TUNyou sentעֲלֶינָאa/LE/nato usמְפָרַשׁme/fa/RASHplainlyקֱרִיke/RIhas been readקׇדָמָי׃ko/da/MAYbefore me

    The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19. 19

    וּמִנִּיu/min/NIand from meשִׂיםsimwas givenטְעֵםte/EMa decreeוּבַקַּרוּu/vak/KA/ruand search was madeוְהַשְׁכַּחוּve/hash/KA/chuand it was foundדִּיdithatקִרְיְתָאkir/ye/TAthe cityדָךְdakhthisמִן־יוֹמָתmin-yo/MATfrom the days ofעָלְמָאa/le/MAantiquityעַל־מַלְכִיןal-mal/KHINagainst kingsמִתְנַשְּׂאָהmit/nas/se/Ahas risen upוּמְרַדu/me/RADand rebellionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּרve/esh/tad/DURand seditionמִתְעֲבֶד־בַּהּ׃mit/a/VED-bahave been made in it

    And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

20. 20

    וּמַלְכִיןu/mal/KHINand kingsתַּקִּיפִיןtak/ki/FINstrongהֲווֹha/VOthere have beenעַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶםal-Ye/rush/LEMover Jerusalemוְשַׁלִּיטִיןve/shal/li/TINand rulingבְּכֹלbe/KHOLover allעֲבַרa/VARthe region beyondנַהֲרָהna/ha/RAthe riverוּמִדָּהu/mid/DAand tributeבְלוֹve/LOcustomוַהֲלָךְva/ha/LAKHand tollמִתְיְהֵבmit/ye/HEVwas paidלְהוֹן׃le/HONto them

    There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

21. 21

    כְּעַןke/ANnowשִׂימוּSI/mugiveטְּעֵםte/EMa decreeלְבַטָּלָאle/vat/ta/LAto make ceaseגֻּבְרַיָּאguv/ray/YAthe menאִלֵּךְil/LEKHtheseוְקִרְיְתָאve/kir/ye/TAand the cityדָךְdakhthisלָאlanotתִתְבְּנֵאtit/be/NEbe builtעַד־מִנִּיad-min/NIuntil from meטַעְמָאta/MAthe decreeיִתְּשָׂם׃yit/te/SAMis given

    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.

22. 22

    וּזְהִירִיןu/ze/hi/RINand take heedהֱווֹhe/VObeשָׁלוּsha/LUfailingלְמֶעְבַּדle/me/BADto doעַל־דְּנָהal-de/NAupon thisלְמָהle/MAwhyיִשְׂגֵּאyis/GEshould growחֲבָלָאcha/va/LAthe damageלְהַנְזָקַתle/han/za/KATto the damage ofמַלְכִין׃mal/KHINkings

    Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23. 23

    אֱדַיִןe/DA/yinthenמִן־דִּיmin-diwhenפַּרְשֶׁגֶןpar/SHE/genthe copy ofנִשְׁתְּוָנָאnish/te/va/NAthe letterדִּיdiofאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאAr/tach/SHAS/teArtaxerxesמַלְכָּאmal/KAthe kingקֱרִיke/RIwas readקֳדָם־רְחוּםko/DAM-Re/CHUMbefore Rehumוְשִׁמְשַׁיve/Shim/SHAYand Shimshaiסָפְרָאsa/fe/RAthe scribeוּכְנָוָתְהוֹןu/khe/na/va/te/HONand their companionsאֲזַלוּa/ZA/luwentבִבְהִילוּviv/hi/LUin hasteלִירוּשְׁלֶםlI/rush/LEMto Jerusalemעַל־יְהוּדָיֵאal-Ye/hu/da/YEto the Jewsוּבַטִּלוּu/vat/TI/luand made ceaseהִמּוֹhim/MOthemבְּאֶדְרָעbe/ed/RAby forceוְחָיִל׃ve/CHA/yiland power

    Now 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 unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

24. 24

    בֵּאדַיִןbe/DA/yinthenבְּטֵלַתbe/te/LATceasedעֲבִידַתa/vi/DATthe work ofבֵּית־אֱלָהָאbet-e/la/HAthe house of Godדִּיdiwhich isבִּירוּשְׁלֶםbI/rush/LEMis in Jerusalemוַהֲוָתva/ha/VATand it wasבָּטְלָאba/te/LAceasedעַדaduntilשְׁנַתshe/NATthe yearתַּרְתֵּיןtar/TENtwoלְמַלְכוּתle/mal/KHUTof the reign ofדָּרְיָוֶשׁDa/re/YA/veshDariusמֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס׃ME/lekh-Pa/RASthe king of Persia

    Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.