Ezra 4 24

Ezra 4:24 kjv

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.

Ezra 4:24 nkjv

Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 4:24 niv

Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 4:24 esv

Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 4:24 nlt

So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 24 Meaning

Ezra 4:24 states that the work on the house of God in Jerusalem formally ceased and remained halted until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. This verse marks the successful culmination of the adversaries' efforts to stop the Temple rebuilding, highlighting a period of significant delay and discouragement for the returned exiles.

Ezra 4 24 Context

Ezra chapter 4 presents a narrative that, while not strictly chronological, demonstrates the continuous opposition faced by the returned exiles in rebuilding the Temple and the city walls. Verses 1-5 describe initial attempts to hinder the work during the reigns of Cyrus and Ahasuerus (Cambyses). Verses 6-23 insert a parenthetical section, illustrating how this opposition persisted and successfully secured royal decrees against Jerusalem under later Persian kings, Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) and Artaxerxes I. Specifically, the official letter to Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:11-16) and his subsequent decree to stop the work (Ezra 4:17-23) directly lead to the event described in verse 24. This verse acts as a summary of the effectiveness of the adversaries' efforts, highlighting the actual cessation of the Temple building initiated under Artaxerxes I's decree and specifying the duration of this halt: it would continue until the second year of King Darius. The historical narrative then picks up chronologically in Ezra chapter 5, detailing the resumption of work under this very Darius (Darius I Hystaspes), encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

Ezra 4 24 Word analysis

• Then (בֵּאדַ֗יִן - bēʾăḏayiṯ): An Aramaic adverb meaning "then" or "at that time." It links this consequence directly to the preceding events, especially the king's decree in Ezra 4:21-23. It signifies a pivotal moment of formal, governmental stoppage.
• ceased (בָּטְלַת - bāṭəlaṯ): An Aramaic verb meaning "to stop," "to be annulled," or "to make void." The term carries the weight of authority and finality from the Persian government's decree. This cessation was not due to the workers' lack of desire but external prohibition, rendering the previous efforts fruitless for a period.
• the work (עֲבִידְּתָא - ʿăḇîḏəṯāʾ): An Aramaic noun meaning "work," "service," or "activity," specifically referring to the building efforts. This emphasizes that it was a concrete, ongoing activity that was stopped, not merely a desire.
• of the house of God (בֵית־אֱלָהָא - bêṯ-ʾělāhâʾ): An Aramaic phrase explicitly identifying the Temple in Jerusalem. This underscores the divine nature and significance of the project that was halted. It wasn't just any building but God's sacred dwelling place, highlighting the spiritual implications of the opposition.
• which is at Jerusalem (דִּי בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם - dî bîrûšəlem): Aramaic for "which is in Jerusalem." It clearly locates the project, tying it to the city central to God's promises and covenant with Israel. Jerusalem's significance amplifies the gravity of the cessation.
• and it ceased (וּבָֽטְלַת - ûbāṭəlath): The repetition of the verb "ceased" emphasizes the finality and enduring nature of the halt. It wasn't a temporary pause but a state of being "nullified."
• unto (עַד - ʿaḏ): Aramaic preposition meaning "until," indicating a precise temporal boundary or limit. This shows that the cessation was for a defined period, however long, which God knew and eventually broke.
• the second year (שְׁנַת־תַּרְתֵּין - šənaṯ-tarəttên): Aramaic for "second year." This provides a very specific chronological marker for the end of the building moratorium, preparing the reader for the narrative's continuation.
• of the reign of Darius king of Persia (מַלְכוּת דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ־פָּרָס - malḵūṯ dārəyāweš melek-pārās): Identifies the specific Persian king. This "Darius" is Darius I Hystaspes (ruled 522–486 BC), under whom the Temple work famously resumed as recorded in Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra 5–6. This period of cessation, from the decree under Artaxerxes (approx. 457 BC) back to the chronological beginning of the halt after Cambyses, meant an effective delay of around 15-18 years from the time of Cyrus/Cambyses until Darius I allowed it to restart.

Ezra 4 24 Bonus section

• The chronological placement of Ezra 4:6-23 is a narrative technique to group instances of opposition together. While Cyrus allowed the return, subsequent opposition during Cambyses and then the successful stoppage under Artaxerxes (referred to here) highlight the persistent challenge. Ezra 4:24 serves to punctuate the actual duration of the cessation before the narrative returns chronologically to Darius I.
• The "Darius" mentioned here is unequivocally Darius I Hystaspes (reigned 522-486 BC), who plays a significant role in Ezra chapters 5 and 6, where he issues the decree allowing the Temple to be finished. The "second year of Darius" is a pivotal date (520 BC), as it marks the time when God raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to stir the people to resume building.
• The use of Aramaic in Ezra 4:8 to 6:18 and 7:12-26 indicates these sections were either quotes from official documents or were written in the lingua franca of the Persian administration, lending authenticity to the royal decrees and correspondence. This specific verse, being in Aramaic, emphasizes the official nature of the work's cessation.

Ezra 4 24 Commentary

Ezra 4:24 concludes a frustrating period for the returned exiles. It explicitly states that the building of the Temple in Jerusalem ceased due to official Persian decree, brought about by persistent, false accusations from adversaries. This verse serves as a historical bookmark, marking the effectiveness of human opposition and the apparent triumph of worldly power over God's stated will. However, this cessation was not permanent, merely protracted, demonstrating that while God allows trials and delays for His people, His ultimate plans are always fulfilled. The specificity of "the second year of Darius king of Persia" acts as a temporal pivot, hinting at God's faithfulness in providing new leadership (Darius) and prophetic encouragement (Haggai, Zechariah) to recommence and complete the work. It underscores the biblical theme that while the immediate work may be hindered by human hands, divine purpose eventually triumphs in its own appointed time.