KJV King James Version
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.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ezra 4:23
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.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
WEB World English Bible
Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
ASV American Standard Version
Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Then from the time that a copy of the letter of king Artaxerxes is read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they have gone in haste to Jerusalem, unto the Jews, and caused them to cease by force and strength;
Surrounding context — Ezra 4
20 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 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 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 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 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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
אֱדַ֗יִןH116 · e.da.yinthenמִן־H4481 · minfromדִּ֞יH1768 · dithatפַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶןH6573 · par.she.gencopyנִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙H5407 · nish.te.vandocumentדִּ֚יH1768 · dithatאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּH783 · ar.tach.shash.taArtaxerxesמַלְכָּ֔אH4430 · me.lekhkingקֱרִ֧יH7123 · qe.rato readקֳדָם־H6925 · qo.dambeforeרְח֛וּםH7348 · re.chumRehumוְשִׁמְשַׁ֥יH8124 · shim.shayShimshaiסָפְרָ֖אH5613 · sa.pherscribeוּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹןH3675 · ke.natassociateאֲזַ֨לוּH236 · a.zalto goבִבְהִיל֤וּH924 · be.hi.luhastelyלִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙H3390 · ye.ru.sha.lemJerusalemעַל־H5922 · alsinceיְה֣וּדָיֵ֔אH3062 · ye.hu.da.iJewוּבַטִּ֥לוּH989 · be.telto ceaseהִמּ֖וֹH1994 · him.motheyבְּאֶדְרָ֥עH153 · ed.raforceוְחָֽיִל׃ סH2429 · cha.yilstrength
Cross-references
Micah 2:1Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.Ezra 4:8-9Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:Ezra 4:17[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.Romans 3:15Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:Proverbs 4:16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Ezra 4:23
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →