Ezra 4 21

Ezra 4:21 kjv

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.

Ezra 4:21 nkjv

Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.

Ezra 4:21 niv

Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.

Ezra 4:21 esv

Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.

Ezra 4:21 nlt

Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command.

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 21 Meaning

King Artaxerxes' decree, issued in response to accusations, mandates an immediate and forceful halt to the reconstruction of Jerusalem's city walls. The order states that the building activity by the Jews must cease entirely, and the city should remain unbuilt until the king himself issues another command, thereby retaining complete authority over the continuation or cessation of the work.

Ezra 4 21 Context

Ezra 4:21 falls within a crucial section of the book that chronicles the post-exilic community's initial efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and the fierce opposition they faced.

This specific verse is King Artaxerxes' (Artaxerxes I Longimanus) official response to a highly prejudicial letter sent by Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe (Ezra 4:8-16). This letter falsely accused the returned Jews of rebuilding a historically rebellious city with the intent to withhold taxes and eventually challenge Persian imperial authority. Artaxerxes' decree in verse 21 stems directly from his review of the Persian historical records, which seemed to confirm Jerusalem's past rebellious nature (Ezra 4:19).

The broader chapter, Ezra 4, actually describes several distinct periods of opposition to the Jewish restoration, spanning multiple Persian kings (Cyrus, Ahasuerus/Xerxes, Artaxerxes). The particular events leading to this verse refer to efforts to rebuild Jerusalem's city walls and foundations, rather than primarily the temple (which had been stalled earlier, then restarted under Darius, as detailed in Ezra 5-6). The adversaries cunningly framed the rebuilding of fortifications as an act of sedition against the Persian Empire, triggering the king's concern for provincial control and tribute revenue. This command to "cease" was therefore a powerful legal injunction that brought the city's restoration work to an immediate halt for a significant period.

Ezra 4 21 Word analysis

• Give now commandment: (Aramaic: נְשִׂ֣ימוּ כְעַן טְעֵם - n'siyumu k'an t'e'em)

  • n'siyumu (נְשִׂימוּ): Aramaic, meaning "let them put" or "let be placed." Implies immediate action and execution of an order. It's a jussive form, indicating a command.
  • k'an (כְעַן): Aramaic for "now" or "at once." Stresses urgency and immediacy of the royal decree.
  • t'e'em (טְעֵם): Aramaic for "decree," "edict," or "command." A formal, legally binding royal proclamation.

• to cause these men to cease: (Aramaic: בַּטִּ֨ילוּ גֻבְרַיָּ֣א אֵלֵּךְ֙ - battilu gubrayya 'ellekh)

  • battilu (בַּטִּילוּ): Aramaic for "cause to stop," "annul," "make void," or "invalidate." It denotes a complete and effective termination of an activity.
  • gubrayya 'ellekh (גֻבְרַיָּא אֵלֵּךְ֙): "these men." Directly refers to the Jewish people who were actively engaged in the rebuilding work in Jerusalem. It's an impersonal yet precise designation of the builders.

• and that this city be not builded: (Aramaic: קִרְיְתָ֥א דָּא֙ לָֽא תִתְבְּנֵ֔א - qiry'ta da' la titb'ne')

  • qiry'ta da' (קִרְיְתָא דָּא֙): "this city." Unambiguously refers to Jerusalem, specifically its physical reconstruction, especially its defenses.
  • la titb'ne' (לָֽא תִתְבְּנֵ֔א): "not be built" (passive). A strong prohibition against any further construction. The passive voice emphasizes the state of the city itself being prevented from development.

• until another commandment shall be given from me: (Aramaic: עַד־דִּֽי מִנִּ֕י יִתְיְהֵ֥ב טְעֵ֖ם אֳחְרָֽן - ad-diy minni yity'yehev t'e'em 'ohrān)

  • ad-diy (עַד־דִּֽי): Aramaic for "until." Establishes a conditional time limit, meaning the prohibition is not necessarily permanent.
  • minni (מִנִּ֕י): Aramaic for "from me." Highlights that the sole authority to issue a new command, thus lifting the ban, rests with the king himself. Reinforces his supreme and arbitrary power.
  • yity'yehev (יִתְיְהֵ֥ב): Aramaic, "shall be given" (passive). Implies a future possibility, entirely at the king's discretion.
  • t'e'em 'ohrān (טְעֵ֖ם אֳחְרָֽן): "another decree/command." Signifies that a fresh royal decision is required for any work to resume, emphasizing the ban's conditional nature.

• "Give now commandment to cause these men to cease": This phrase establishes the king's unquestionable authority and the immediate nature of his decree. It signifies a decisive, official termination of activity, showing the human power to hinder God's purposes.

• "and that this city be not builded": This clarifies the specific target of the prohibition: the entire city of Jerusalem, particularly its fortifications. The phrase directly reflects the political fear that a rebuilt, strong Jerusalem would pose a threat to the Persian Empire's control and tribute collection.

• "until another commandment shall be given from me": This conditional clause reveals that the ban is temporary, yet its duration is entirely subject to the king's future, arbitrary decision. It highlights the vulnerability of the Jews to changing human political will, creating uncertainty and dependence on imperial favor, in stark contrast to divine consistency.

Ezra 4 21 Bonus section

• Political Implications: The king's concern was entirely pragmatic, driven by fears of economic loss from unpaid tribute and political instability. The decree shows how earthly rulers, guided by self-preservation and fear, can unwittingly become instruments that delay, though not ultimately prevent, God's divine plans.
• Foreshadowing Future Challenges: This command sets the stage for the later ministry of Nehemiah, who, years later, would also seek permission from the same King Artaxerxes to rebuild these very walls (Nehemiah 2). The temporary cessation highlights the need for divine intervention and the perseverance of God's people.
• Testing of Faith: The extended period during which Jerusalem remained largely unfortified and the work suspended must have been deeply disheartening for the exiles. It necessitated a profound trust in God's ultimate faithfulness, even when immediate circumstances seemed to contradict His promises.

Ezra 4 21 Commentary

Ezra 4:21 represents a significant setback in the narrative of Israel's return from exile and the restoration of Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes' command to immediately halt the building of the city walls was a direct response to deceptive accusations. This imperial decree, absolute in its language ("cause... to cease," "be not builded"), demonstrated the potent influence of human opposition, seemingly frustrating God's clear purpose for His people. The phrase "until another commandment shall be given from me" underscores that the resumption of God's work rested entirely on the shifting political will of a pagan monarch, rather than the unwavering will of the Almighty. This prolonged delay in reconstruction would test the faith and resolve of the returned exiles. It served as a reminder that divine purposes, while unthwartable, might unfold according to a timeline influenced by human circumstances and resistance.