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Ezra 4:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ezra 4:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
Ezra 4:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezra 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19And I decreed, 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.
20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all [the country] beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid unto them.
21Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
22And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23Then 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.
24Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
← Ezra 4:20Ezra 4:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, etc.] From building: and that this city be not builded until another commandment shall be given from me; he might suspect that this case, in all its circumstances, was not truly stated, and that hereafter he might see reason to recede from the present orders he gave; and the rather, as by searching, and perhaps on his own knowledge, must have observed, that his father Cyrus had shown favour to the Jews, and had not only set them at liberty, but had encouraged them to rebuild their temple; which might be what they were about, and was the case, and nothing else, except their houses to dwell in.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:21 except at my express command: Work on the walls remained stopped until 445 BC, when Nehemiah, Artaxerxes’ cup-bearer, gained his permission to resume reconstruction (see Neh 2:1-6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Give ye: etc. Chal, Make a decree, Ezr 4:19 Ezra 4:22”
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Related study paths

Read Ezra 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification