Online Bible

Book of Ezra, Chapter 4

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Ezra 4 NWT - New World TranslationEzra 4 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 4 of Ezra—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ When the adversaries1 of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the Exile2 were building a temple to Jehovah the God of Israel,
  2. they immediately approached Ze·rubʹba·bel3 and the heads4 of the paternal houses and said to them: “Let us build along with YOU;5 for, just like YOU, we search for YOUR God6 and to him we are sacrificing since the days of Eʹsar-hadʹdon7 the king of As·syrʹi·a, who brought us up here.”8
  3. However, Ze·rubʹba·bel and Jeshʹu·a9 and the rest of the heads10 of the paternal houses of Israel said to them: “YOU have nothing to do with us[a] in building a house to our God,11 for we ourselves shall together build to Jehovah the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus12 the king of Persia has commanded us.”
  4. ¶ At that the people of the land were continually weakening13 the hands of the people of Judah and disheartening them from building,14
  5. and hiring15 counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus the king of Persia down till the reign of Da·riʹus16 the king of Persia.
  6. And in the reign of A·has·u·eʹrus, at the start of his reign, they wrote an accusation17 against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
  7. Also, in the days of Ar·ta·xerxʹes, Bishʹlam, Mithʹre·dath, Tabʹe·el and the rest of his colleagues wrote to Ar·ta·xerxʹes the king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was written in Ar·a·maʹic characters and translated into the Ar·a·maʹic18 language.
  8. [b] Reʹhum the chief government official and Shimʹshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Ar·ta·xerxʹes the king, as follows:
  9. Then Reʹhum19 the chief government official and Shimʹshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the judges and the lesser governors across the River,[c]20 the secretaries,21 the people of Eʹrech,22 the Babylonians,23 the inhabitants of Suʹsa,[d]24 that is, the Eʹlam·ites,25
  10. and the rest of the nations26 whom the great and honorable Asʹe·nap·par[e]27 took into exile and settled in the cities of Sa·marʹi·a,28 and the rest beyond the River, ——;[f] and now
  11. this is a copy of the letter that they sent concerning it:
    ¶ “To Ar·ta·xerxʹes29 the king your servants, the men beyond the River: And now
  12. let it become known to the king that the Jews who came up here from you to us have come to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and they proceed to finish the walls30 and to repair the foundations.
  13. Now let it become known to the king that, if this city should be rebuilt and its walls be finished, neither tax31 nor tribute32 nor toll33 will they give, and it will cause loss to the treasuries34 of the kings.
  14. Now inasmuch as we do eat the salt[g] of the palace, and it is not proper for us to see the denuding of the king, on this account we have sent and made [it] known to the king,
  15. that there may be an investigation of the book of records35 of your ancestors. Then you will find in the book of records and learn that that city is a city rebellious and causing loss to kings and jurisdictional districts, and within it there were movers of revolt from the days of old. For this reason that city has been laid waste.36
  16. We are making known to the king that, if that city should be rebuilt and its walls be finished, you also will certainly have no share beyond the River.”[h]37
  17. ¶ The king sent word to Reʹhum38 the chief government official and Shimʹshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues39 who were dwelling in Sa·marʹi·a and the rest beyond the River:
    ¶ “Greetings![i]40 And now
  18. the official document that YOU have sent us[j] has been distinctly read before me.
  19. So an order has been put through by me, and they have investigated41 and found that that city has from the days of old been one rising up against kings and one in which rebellion and revolt have been carried on.42
  20. And there proved to be strong kings43 over Jerusalem and governing all beyond the River,44 and tax, tribute and toll were being given to them.45
  21. Now PUT an order through for these able-bodied men to stop, that that city may not be rebuilt until the order is put through by me.
  22. So be careful that there be no negligence about acting in this regard, that the harm may not increase to the injury of kings.”46
  23. ¶ Now after the copy of the official document of Ar·ta·xerxʹes the king had been read before Reʹhum47 and Shimʹshai48 the scribe and their colleagues,49 they went in a hurry to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force of arms.[k]50
  24. It was then that the work on the house of God, which was in Jerusalem, stopped; and it continued stopped until the second year of the reign of Da·riʹus51 the king of Persia.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Lit., “[There is] nothing to you and to us.” A Heb. idiom. See App 7B.
  2. ^ Ezra is written in Aram. from this vs through 6:18.
  3. ^ Or, “the transriverine (transfluvial) lesser governors.”
  4. ^ Or, “Shushan.”
  5. ^ Or, “Osnappar.” This is a clipped rendering of the name of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal; Aram., like the Persian, which has no l, substitutes an r for the final l.
  6. ^ In M the verb is evidently omitted here. LXX inserts “judged,” transposing this verb to the beginning of vs 9.
  7. ^ “Eat the salt.” An ancient expression meaning to receive a salary in payment for service.
  8. ^ That is, the Euphrates.
  9. ^ Lit., “Peace!” Aram., shelamʹ.
  10. ^ “Us,” pl. to denote excellence, and it is used like the present-day editorial “we.”
  11. ^ Or, “by an army.” Lit., “with arm and strength.”

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Ezr 4:7, 23; Ne 4:7, 11
  2. ^ De 30:3; 2Ki 24:15; Ezr 2:64
  3. ^ Ezr 1:11; 2:2
  4. ^ Ezr 2:68
  5. ^ Ps 55:21; Pr 26:23, 25
  6. ^ 2Ki 17:33, 34
  7. ^ 2Ki 19:37
  8. ^ 2Ki 17:24
  9. ^ Zc 3:1
  10. ^ Ezr 1:5
  11. ^ Ne 2:20; Jn 4:9, 22
  12. ^ 2Ch 36:23; Ezr 1:1; 6:3; Is 44:28
  13. ^ Ezr 3:3; Ne 6:9
  14. ^ Hg 1:2
  15. ^ Ne 6:12
  16. ^ Ezr 4:24; 5:5; 6:1; Da 11:2
  17. ^ Ps 52:2; 119:69; Re 12:10
  18. ^ 2Ki 18:26; Da 2:4
  19. ^ Ezr 4:17, 23
  20. ^ Ge 15:18; De 11:24
  21. ^ 2Sa 8:17; 2Ch 24:11
  22. ^ Ge 10:10
  23. ^ Eze 23:15
  24. ^ Ne 1:1; Es 1:2; Da 8:2
  25. ^ Ge 10:22; Is 11:11; Je 49:36
  26. ^ 2Ki 17:24
  27. ^ 2Ki 17:27
  28. ^ 2Ki 17:26
  29. ^ Ezr 4:8
  30. ^ Ne 1:3
  31. ^ 2Ki 23:35
  32. ^ Ne 5:4
  33. ^ Ro 13:7
  34. ^ Ezr 5:17; 7:21
  35. ^ Es 2:23; 6:1
  36. ^ Je 52:3
  37. ^ De 11:24; 2Sa 8:3
  38. ^ Ezr 4:8
  39. ^ Ezr 4:7; 5:3; 6:6
  40. ^ Ezr 5:7; Ac 23:26
  41. ^ Ezr 4:15; 5:17; 6:1; Pr 25:2
  42. ^ 2Ki 18:7; 24:20; Eze 17:15
  43. ^ 2Sa 8:6; 1Ki 4:21; 1Ch 18:3; 2Ch 26:15
  44. ^ Ge 15:18
  45. ^ 2Sa 8:2; 1Ch 18:6; 2Ch 9:14; 17:11; 26:8
  46. ^ Ezr 4:13
  47. ^ Ezr 4:8, 17
  48. ^ Ezr 4:9
  49. ^ Ezr 4:7
  50. ^ Mc 2:1
  51. ^ Ezr 5:5; 6:1; Hg 1:15

Read Ezra Chapter 4 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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