King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
so that a search can be made in the archives of your ancestors; in these archives you will find and ascertain that this city is indeed a rebellious city, the bane of kings and provinces, and that sedition has been fostered there since ancient times - which is why this city was destroyed.
Berean Standard Bible:
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
American Standard Version:
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 laid waste.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That search{H1240} may be made in the book{H5609} of the records{H1799} of thy fathers{H2}: so shalt thou find{H7912} in the book{H5609} of the records{H1799}, and know{H3046} that this{H1791} city{H7149} is a rebellious{H4779} city{H7149}, and hurtful{H5142} unto kings{H4430} and provinces{H4083}, and that they have moved{H5648} sedition{H849} within the same{H1459} of{H4481} old{H5957} time{H3118}: for{H5922} which{H1836} cause was this{H1791} city{H7149} destroyed{H2718}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezra 4:12
- 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.
Jeremiah 52:3
- For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 52:34
- And [for] his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.
Nehemiah 6:6
- Wherein [was] written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
2 Kings 25:4
- And the city was broken up, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which [is] by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees [were] against the city round about:) and [the king] went the way toward the plain.
2 Kings 24:20
- For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
2 Kings 25:1
- ¶ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Ezra 4:15
Ezra 4:15 is part of a letter written to King Artaxerxes of Persia by the enemies of the Jews who had returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. The historical context of this verse is set during the reign of Artaxerxes I (465–424 BCE), after the first wave of Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, led by Zerubbabel and encouraged by the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah.
In this verse, the authors of the letter are appealing to the king's records to substantiate their claim that Jerusalem has a history of rebellion against foreign rulers, posing a threat to the stability of the empire. They assert that the city has been historically seditious, suggesting that its rebuilding could lead to future uprisings against the king's authority. The implication is that allowing the Jews to continue their construction efforts might result in the loss of royal control over the region and could potentially incite further rebellion.
The themes present in this verse include the political intrigue and maneuvering that characterized the period. It reflects the tension between the returning exiles' desire to restore their homeland and the concerns of the Persian administration regarding loyalty and potential insurrection within their vast empire. The verse also touches on the idea of historical precedent and the use of historical records to influence political decisions. The enemies of the Jews were attempting to use the city's past against its present inhabitants to halt the reconstruction of Jerusalem and its temple, which was central to the Jewish people's religious and national identity.
The verse underscores the challenges faced by the Jewish community in their efforts to reestablish themselves in their ancestral land, as well as the broader political and social dynamics at play in the ancient Near East during the post-exilic period.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1240
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּקַר
Transliteration: bᵉqar
Pronunciation: bek-ar'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to בָּקַר; {properly, to plough, or (generally) break forth, i.e. (figuratively) to inspect, admire, care for, consider}; inquire, make search. - Strong's Number: H5609
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סְפַר
Transliteration: çᵉphar
Pronunciation: sef-ar'
Description: (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to סָפַר; a book; book, roll. - Strong's Number: H1799
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דִּכְרוֹן
Transliteration: dikrôwn
Pronunciation: dik-rone'
Description: (Aramaic) or דׇּכְרָן (Aramaic); corresponding to זִכְרוֹן; a register; record. - Strong's Number: H2
There are 12727 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַב
Transliteration: ʼab
Pronunciation: ab
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to אָב; {father}; father. - Strong's Number: H7912
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁכַח
Transliteration: shᵉkach
Pronunciation: shek-akh'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁכַח through the idea of disclosure of a covered or forgotten thing; to discover (literally or figuratively); find. - Strong's Number: H3046
There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְדַע
Transliteration: yᵉdaʻ
Pronunciation: yed-ah'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to יָדַע; {to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)}; certify, know, make known, teach. - Strong's Number: H1791
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֵּךְ
Transliteration: dêk
Pronunciation: dake
Description: (Aramaic) or דָּךְ; (Aramaic), prolonged from דָּא; this; the same, this. - Strong's Number: H7149
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִרְיָא
Transliteration: qiryâʼ
Pronunciation: keer-yaw'
Description: (Aramaic) or קִרְיָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to קִרְיָה; {building; a city}; city. - Strong's Number: H4779
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָרָד
Transliteration: mârâd
Pronunciation: maw-rawd'
Description: (Aramaic) from the same as מְרַד; rebellious; rebellious. - Strong's Number: H5142
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְזַק
Transliteration: nᵉzaq
Pronunciation: nez-ak'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to the root of נֵזֶק; to suffer (causatively, inflict) loss; have (en-) damage, hurt(-ful). - Strong's Number: H4430
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מֶלֶךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H4083
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְדִינָה
Transliteration: mᵉdîynâh
Pronunciation: med-ee-naw'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מְדִינָה; {properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region}; province. - Strong's Number: H5648
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲבַד
Transliteration: ʻăbad
Pronunciation: ab-bad'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עָבַד; to do, make, prepare, keep, etc.; [idiom] cut, do, execute, go on, make, move, work. - Strong's Number: H849
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר
Transliteration: ʼeshtaddûwr
Pronunciation: esh-tad-dure'
Description: (Aramaic) from שְׁדַר (in a bad sense); rebellion; sedition. - Strong's Number: H1459
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גַּו
Transliteration: gav
Pronunciation: gav
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to גֵּו; the middle; midst, same, there-(where-) in. - Strong's Number: H4481
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִן
Transliteration: min
Pronunciation: min
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מִן; {properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of}; according, after, [phrase] because, [phrase] before, by, for, from, [idiom] him, [idiom] more than, (out) of, part, since, [idiom] these, to, upon, [phrase] when. - Strong's Number: H5957
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלַם
Transliteration: ʻâlam
Pronunciation: aw-lam'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עוֹלָם; remote time, i.e. the future or past indefinitely; often adverb, forever; for (n-)ever (lasting), old. - Strong's Number: H3118
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to יוֹם; a day; day (by day), time. - Strong's Number: H5922
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַל
Transliteration: ʻal
Pronunciation: al
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עַל; {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications}; about, against, concerning, for, (there-) fore, from, in, [idiom] more, of, (there-, up-) on, (in-) to, [phrase] why with. - Strong's Number: H1836
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֵּן
Transliteration: dên
Pronunciation: dane
Description: (Aramaic) an orthographical variation of דֵּךְ; this; (afore-) time, [phrase] after this manner, here (-after), one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), [phrase] thus, where(-fore), which. - Strong's Number: H2718
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲרַב
Transliteration: chărab
Pronunciation: khar-ab'
Description: (Aramaic) a root corresponding to חָרַב; to demolish; destroy.