Ezra 4:18 kjv
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
Ezra 4:18 nkjv
The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me.
Ezra 4:18 niv
The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.
Ezra 4:18 esv
the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
Ezra 4:18 nlt
"The letter you sent has been translated and read to me.
Ezra 4 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 41:15-16 | Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it... | Need for interpretation by God's wisdom |
| Deut 17:18-19 | When he sits on the throne... he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law... | Kings engaged with written law/decrees |
| 1 Ki 21:8-10 | So he wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal and sent the letters... | Authority and formality of royal letters |
| Neh 2:7-9 | Further, I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me... | Importance of royal letters for official action |
| Neh 4:7-8 | When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard... | Adversaries hindering rebuilding efforts |
| Neh 6:5-7 | In the same way Sanballat sent his servant to me the fifth time... open letter... | Written communication in times of opposition |
| Esth 1:19-21 | If it pleases the king, let a royal order be issued... written among the laws of the Persians... | Royal decrees, written and unchangeable |
| Esth 3:12 | Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month... | Royal scribes handling official communications |
| Esth 8:9-10 | Then the king’s scribes were summoned... and letters were written... according to all that Mordecai commanded... | Broad distribution of royal communications |
| Psa 2:1-2 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves... | Nations/adversaries conspiring against God's people |
| Prov 25:5 | Take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established... | Kings dealing with malicious reports |
| Ecc 12:12 | Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. | Importance and prevalence of written documents |
| Isa 41:11-12 | Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame... perish; you shall seek them... | Adversaries ultimately come to nothing |
| Dan 5:7-8 | The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers... | Need for interpretation of foreign writings |
| Dan 6:1-3 | It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps... and over them three governors, of whom Daniel was one. | Kings appointing officials to oversee regions |
| Ezra 5:7-17 | They sent a report to him, in which was written: “To Darius the king, all peace... | Another formal letter sent to a Persian king |
| Ezra 7:11-12 | This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra... scribe of the Law... | Royal letters carrying king’s command/authority |
| Ezra 7:25-26 | You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates... | King issuing commands through official letters |
| Matt 27:37 | And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” | Written accusation before authority |
| Acts 25:12 | Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you will go.” | Authority hearing cases and responding |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities... there is no authority except from God... | God-ordained authority of rulers |
| 1 Cor 14:26-28 | When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson... If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at most three... | Order and interpretation in communication |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities... | Spiritual warfare behind human opposition |
| 1 Pet 5:8-9 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion... | Spiritual adversary at work |
Ezra 4 verses
Ezra 4 18 Meaning
Ezra 4:18 indicates that the official letter of accusation, sent by the adversaries in the Trans-Euphrates province to King Artaxerxes against the Jewish builders, has been formally received, publicly read, and thoroughly understood by the king and his royal court. This marks a critical moment where the royal authority fully engages with the complaint.
Ezra 4 18 Context
Ezra chapter 4 describes the ongoing opposition faced by the returned exiles in Jerusalem as they sought to rebuild the temple and city walls. While verse 5 concludes a period of opposition under King Cyrus, Ezra 4:6 shifts to a later time, stating that adversaries continued their accusations "in the days of Artaxerxes King of Persia." The passage then details a specific letter of accusation sent to Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:8-16) by Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe, along with others. This letter was written in Aramaic, the administrative language of the Persian Empire's western provinces, and falsely depicted the Jews as rebellious and a threat to royal authority and revenue if they were allowed to complete their rebuilding work. Ezra 4:18 marks King Artaxerxes' reception and comprehension of this accusatory letter. His subsequent response (Ezra 4:19-22) is to order an investigation, which ultimately confirms previous rebellions by Jerusalem and leads to a decree to halt the rebuilding. This royal decree effectively ceased the work on the walls for a significant period. The verse therefore is a pivotal point, confirming the success of the adversaries' tactic in reaching the king's ear and influencing his decision.
Historically, this occurred during the Achaemenid Persian Empire (circa 464-424 BC). Persian kings maintained vast bureaucratic systems, including scribes and translators, to manage the empire's diverse populations and communications. Letters from officials or provinces were serious documents, typically read and discussed in formal court settings. The adversarial polemic aimed to convince the king that Jerusalem, historically a center of rebellion, would once again defy imperial control, directly threatening the empire's stability and tax income if its walls were rebuilt.
Ezra 4 18 Word analysis
- The letter: (Aramaic: נִשְׁתְּוָנָא - nish'tewanāʾ). Refers to the formal, written document or official epistle. In the Persian administrative context, letters like these carried significant weight and were handled through established bureaucratic channels. Its formality underscores the seriousness of the adversaries' accusations and the king's attention to imperial affairs.
- which you sent: (Aramaic: דִּֽי־שְׁלַחְתּוּן - dî-shelachṭun). "You" here is plural, referring to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues who jointly sent the letter. This highlights the collective nature of the opposition and their organized effort to stop the Jewish rebuilding. The past tense confirms the successful delivery of their message.
- to us: (Aramaic: לָנָא - lānāʾ). Plural, indicating the letter was sent to the king and his royal court or officials. While the king is the ultimate recipient, royal administration often involved a circle of advisors, scribes, and high-ranking officials. It emphasizes the collective decision-making process within the royal palace.
- has been read: (Aramaic: אִתְקְרִי - ʾitqerî). Passive voice, "it was read." This implies a formal, public reading before the king, often by a royal scribe. It signifies that the letter was processed according to standard court protocol, ensuring its contents were fully conveyed to the monarch.
- before me: (Aramaic: קָדָמַי - qōdāmay). Directly in the king's presence. This detail signifies the personal attention and awareness of King Artaxerxes regarding the contents of the letter. It wasn't merely received by a lower official, but truly reached the supreme authority.
- and translated: (Aramaic: וּמְפָרָשׁ - ūmefarash). Also translated as "and interpreted," "and made understood." While Aramaic was widely used in the western provinces, the primary court language in Persia could have been Old Persian, necessitating actual linguistic translation. More broadly, it implies thorough comprehension, meaning not just decoding the words but understanding the implications, arguments, and claims presented by the adversaries. It indicates the content was fully grasped by the royal administration for appropriate action.
Ezra 4 18 Bonus section
The very existence of Ezra 4:8-23, particularly Ezra 4:18-22, in Aramaic within the Hebrew book of Ezra provides tangible proof of the formal administrative communication structure of the Persian Empire. The original text switches to Aramaic (the official language of the Trans-Euphrates province and international commerce) for these direct reports and royal decrees, underscoring their authenticity as official documents. The king's response "and translated" also indicates that Persian monarchs often had materials interpreted into their preferred court language, or at the very least, carefully explained to ensure complete comprehension. This bureaucratic precision contrasts with the adversaries' manipulative intent, but sadly empowers their agenda temporarily.
Ezra 4 18 Commentary
Ezra 4:18 is a concise yet powerful verse, serving as the King of Persia's administrative acknowledgment of the letter sent by Jerusalem's adversaries. It moves the narrative from the adversaries' plotting to the royal response. The meticulous detail—the letter "has been read before me and translated"—underscores the structured bureaucracy of the Persian Empire. This wasn't a casual note; it was an official document that underwent a formal process of reception, review, and interpretation at the highest level of imperial power. The king's direct involvement, denoted by "before me," highlights the immediate and serious attention given to the accusations, confirming that the adversaries successfully reached the ears of the monarch. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for the king's subsequent decision to halt the rebuilding work, demonstrating the efficacy of organized opposition against God's people.