Ezra 4 עֶזְרָא פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Ezra 4 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיִּשְׁמְעוּand they heardצָרֵיthe opponents ofיְהוּדָהJudahוּבִנְיָמִןand Benjaminכִּי־בְנֵיbecause sons ofהַגּוֹלָהthe exilesבּוֹנִיםwere buildingהֵיכׇלthe templeלַיהֹוָהto the LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Israel

   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

   וַיִּגְּשׁוּand they approachedאֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶלto Zerubbabelוְאֶל־רָאשֵׁיand the heads ofהָאָבוֹתthe fathersוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלָהֶםto themנִבְנֶהwe will buildעִמָּכֶםwith youכִּיforכָכֶםlike youנִדְרוֹשׁwe seekלֵאלֹהֵיכֶםto your God(ולא)[וְלוֹ]and to Himאֲנַחְנוּweזֹבְחִיםare sacrificingמִימֵיfrom the days ofאֵסַרEsar-חַדֹּן haddonמֶלֶךְthe king ofאַשּׁוּרAssyriaהַמַּעֲלֶהthe one who brought upאֹתָנוּusפֹּה׃here

   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

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidלָהֶםto themזְרֻבָּבֶלZerubbabelוְיֵשׁוּעַand Jeshuaוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofרָאשֵׁיthe heads ofהָאָבוֹתthe fathersלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Israelלֹא־לָכֶםnot to youוָלָנוּand for usלִבְנוֹתto buildבַּיִתhouseלֵאלֹהֵינוּof our Godכִּיbecauseאֲנַחְנוּweיַחַדtogetherנִבְנֶהwe will buildלַיהֹוָהto the LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּנוּcommanded usהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingכּוֹרֶשׁCyrusמֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס׃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

   וַיְהִיand it came to passעַם־הָאָרֶץthe people of the landמְרַפִּיםwere making slackיְדֵיhands ofעַם־יְהוּדָהpeople Judah(ומבלהים)[וּמְבַהֲלִים]and were terrifyingאוֹתָםthemלִבְנוֹת׃to build

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

5. 5

   וְסֹכְרִיםand were hiringעֲלֵיהֶםupon themיוֹעֲצִיםcounselorsלְהָפֵרto breakעֲצָתָםtheir counselsכׇּל־יְמֵיall days ofכּוֹרֶשׁCyrusמֶלֶךְthe king ofפָּרַסPersiaוְעַד־מַלְכוּתand unto the reign ofדָּרְיָוֶשׁDariusמֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס׃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

   וּבְמַלְכוּתand in the reign ofאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusבִּתְחִלַּתin the commencement ofמַלְכוּתוֹhis kingdomכָּתְבוּwroteשִׂטְנָהan accusationעַל־יֹשְׁבֵיupon inhabitants ofיְהוּדָהJudahוִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃and 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

   וּבִימֵיand in the days ofאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּאArtaxerxesכָּתַבhe wroteבִּשְׁלָםBishlamמִתְרְדָתMithredathטָבְאֵלTabeelוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofכְּנָוֺתָוhis companionsעַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאupon Artaxerxesמֶלֶךְthe king ofפָּרָסPersiaוּכְתָבand the writing ofהַנִּשְׁתְּוָןthe letterכָּתוּבwrittenאֲרָמִיתAramicוּמְתֻרְגָּםand was translatedאֲרָמִית׃Aramic

   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

   רְחוּםRehumבְּעֵל־טְעֵםthe spokesmanוְשִׁמְשַׁיand Shimshaiסָפְרָאthe scribeכְּתַבוּthey wroteאִגְּרָהa letterחֲדָהoneעַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶםupon Jerusalemלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאto Artaxerxesמַלְכָּאthe kingכְּנֵמָא׃as follows

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

9. 9

   אֱדַיִןthenרְחוּםRehumבְּעֵל־טְעֵםthe spokesmanוְשִׁמְשַׁיand Shimshaiסָפְרָאthe scribeוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofכְּנָוָתְהוֹןtheir cohortsדִּינָיֵאthe Dinaitesוַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵאand the officialsטַרְפְּלָיֵאthe Tarpelitesאֲפָרְסָיֵאthe Apharsites(ארכוי)[אַרְכֳּוָיֵא]the Erechitesבָבְלָיֵאthe Babyloniansשׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵאthe Susanchites(דהוא)[דֶּהָיֵא]the Dehitesעֵלְמָיֵא׃the 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

    וּשְׁאָרand the rest ofאֻמַּיָּאthe nationsדִּיwhichהַגְלִיhe took into exileאׇסְנַפַּרAsenapperרַבָּאgreatוְיַקִּירָאand honorableוְהוֹתֵבand he caused to dwellהִמּוֹthemבְּקִרְיָהin the cityדִּיwhichשָׁמְרָיִןSamariaוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofעֲבַר־נַהֲרָהthe region beyond the riverוּכְעֶנֶת׃and 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

    דְּנָהthisפַּרְשֶׁגֶןthe copy ofאִגַּרְתָּאthe letterדִּיwhichשְׁלַחוּthey sentעֲלוֹהִיto himעַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאupon Artaxerxesמַלְכָּאthe king(עבדיך)[עַבְדָךְ]your servantsאֱנָשׁthe man ofעֲבַר־נַהֲרָהthe region beyond the riverוּכְעֶנֶת׃and 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

    יְדִיעַknownלֶהֱוֵאlet it beלְמַלְכָּאto the kingדִּיwhichיְהוּדָיֵאthe Jewsדִּיwhichסְלִקוּthey came upמִן־לְוָתָךְfrom beside youעֲלֶינָאto usאֲתוֹthey have comeלִירוּשְׁלֶםto Jerusalemקִרְיְתָאthe cityמָרָדְתָּאrebelliousוּבִאישְׁתָּאand badבָּנַיִןthey are building(ושורי)[וְשׁוּרַיָּא]and the walls(אשכללו)[שַׁכְלִילוּ]they have finishedוְאֻשַּׁיָּאand the foundationsיַחִיטוּ׃they are repairing

    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

    כְּעַןnowיְדִיעַknownלֶהֱוֵאlet it beלְמַלְכָּאto the kingדִּיwhichהֵןbeholdקִרְיְתָאthe cityדָךְthisתִּתְבְּנֵאit will be builtוְשׁוּרַיָּאand the wallsיִשְׁתַּכְלְלוּןthey will be finishedמִנְדָּה־בְלוֹtribute taxוַהֲלָךְand tollלָאnotיִנְתְּנוּןthey will giveוְאַפְּתֹםand certainlyמַלְכִיםkingsתְּהַנְזִק׃it will injure

    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

    כְּעַןnowכׇּל־קֳבֵלall becauseדִּי־מְלַחwhich the salt ofהֵיכְלָאthe palaceמְלַחְנָאwe eat saltוְעַרְוַתand the dishonor ofמַלְכָּאthe kingלָאnotאֲרִיךְ־לַנָאis proper for usלְמֶחֱזֵאto seeעַל־דְּנָהupon thisשְׁלַחְנָאwe have sentוְהוֹדַעְנָאand we have made knownלְמַלְכָּא׃to 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

    דִּיwhichיְבַקַּרhe will searchבִּסְפַר־דׇּכְרָנַיָּאin the book of the recordsדִּיwhichאֲבָהָתָךְyour fathersוּתְהַשְׁכַּחso you may findבִּסְפַרin the book ofדׇּכְרָנַיָּאthe recordsוְתִנְדַּעso you may knowדִּיwhichקִרְיְתָאthe cityדָךְthisקִרְיָאis a cityמָרָדָאrebelliousוּמְהַנְזְקַתand injuringמַלְכִיןkingsוּמְדִנָןand provincesוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּרand a revoltעָבְדִיןit was makingבְּגַוַּהּin its midstמִן־יוֹמָתfrom the days ofעָלְמָאantiquityעַל־דְּנָהupon thisקִרְיְתָאthe cityדָךְthisהׇחָרְבַת׃it was 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

    מְהוֹדְעִיןare making knownאֲנַחְנָהweלְמַלְכָּאto the kingדִּיwhichהֵןbeholdקִרְיְתָאthe cityדָךְthisתִּתְבְּנֵאit will be builtוְשׁוּרַיָּהand the wallsיִשְׁתַּכְלְלוּןthey will be finishedלׇקֳבֵלbecause ofדְּנָהthisחֲלָקpossessionבַּעֲבַרin the region beyondנַהֲרָאthe riverלָאnotאִיתַיthere isלָךְ׃to 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

    פִּתְגָמָאthe decreeשְׁלַחsendמַלְכָּאthe kingעַל־רְחוּםupon Rehumבְּעֵל־טְעֵםthe spokesmanוְשִׁמְשַׁיand Shimshaiסָפְרָאthe scribeוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofכְּנָוָתְהוֹןtheir cohortsדִּיwhichיָתְבִיןwere dwellingבְּשָׁמְרָיִןin Samariaוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofעֲבַר־נַהֲרָהthe region beyond the riverשְׁלָםpeaceוּכְעֶת׃and 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

    נִשְׁתְּוָנָאthe letterדִּיwhichשְׁלַחְתּוּןyou sentעֲלֶינָאto usמְפָרַשׁmade distinctקֱרִיit was read aloudקׇדָמָי׃before me

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

19. 19

    וּמִנִּיand from meשִׂיםputטְעֵםcommandוּבַקַּרוּand they searchedוְהַשְׁכַּחוּand they foundדִּיwhichקִרְיְתָאthe cityדָךְthisמִן־יוֹמָתfrom the days ofעָלְמָאantiquityעַל־מַלְכִיןupon kingsמִתְנַשְּׂאָהwas rising upוּמְרַדand rebellionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּרand a revoltמִתְעֲבֶד־בַּהּ׃have been done by 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

    וּמַלְכִיןand kingsתַּקִּיפִיןstrongהֲווֹthey wereעַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶםupon Jerusalemוְשַׁלִּיטִיןand having masteryבְּכֹלin allעֲבַרthe region beyondנַהֲרָהthe riverוּמִדָּהand tributeבְלוֹtaxוַהֲלָךְand tollמִתְיְהֵבwas being paidלְהוֹן׃to 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

    כְּעַןnowשִׂימוּgiveטְּעֵםa decreeלְבַטָּלָאto make to ceaseגֻּבְרַיָּאthe menאִלֵּךְtheseוְקִרְיְתָאand the cityדָךְthisלָאnotתִתְבְּנֵאit will be builtעַד־מִנִּיuntil some ofטַעְמָאthe decreeיִתְּשָׂם׃it will be made

    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

    וּזְהִירִיןand cautiousהֱווֹbeשָׁלוּto failלְמֶעְבַּדto doעַל־דְּנָהupon thisלְמָהto whatיִשְׂגֵּאwill it grow greatחֲבָלָאthe damageלְהַנְזָקַתto injuryמַלְכִין׃kings

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

23. 23

    אֱדַיִןthenמִן־דִּיfrom whichפַּרְשֶׁגֶןthe copy ofנִשְׁתְּוָנָאthe letterדִּיwhichאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּאArtaxerxesמַלְכָּאthe kingקֱרִיit was read aloudקֳדָם־רְחוּםbefore Rehumוְשִׁמְשַׁיand Shimshaiסָפְרָאthe scribeוּכְנָוָתְהוֹןand their cohortsאֲזַלוּthey wentבִבְהִילוּin hasteלִירוּשְׁלֶםto Jerusalemעַל־יְהוּדָיֵאupon the Jewsוּבַטִּלוּand they made to ceaseהִמּוֹthemבְּאֶדְרָעwith forceוְחָיִל׃and 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

    בֵּאדַיִןthenבְּטֵלַתit ceasedעֲבִידַתthe work ofבֵּית־אֱלָהָאhouse of Godדִּיwhichבִּירוּשְׁלֶםis in Jerusalemוַהֲוָתand it wasבָּטְלָאceasingעַדuntilשְׁנַתyear ofתַּרְתֵּיןtwoלְמַלְכוּתof reign ofדָּרְיָוֶשׁDariusמֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס׃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.