Ezra 4 7

Ezra 4:7 kjv

And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

Ezra 4:7 nkjv

In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language.

Ezra 4:7 niv

And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.

Ezra 4:7 esv

In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

Ezra 4:7 nlt

Even later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, the enemies of Judah, led by Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, sent a letter to Artaxerxes in the Aramaic language, and it was translated for the king.

Ezra 4 verses

Ezra 4 7 Meaning

This verse initiates a new, specific instance of opposition to the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. It details how adversaries, including individuals named Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, along with their associates, composed an official letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia. The significance is further emphasized by the explicit mention that this crucial document was written in Aramaic, indicating its status as a formal imperial communication.

Ezra 4 7 Context

Ezra 4 provides an important, though chronologically discontinuous, account of the prolonged opposition faced by the returning Jewish exiles as they sought to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Instead of presenting a linear narrative, the chapter serves as an editorial interlude, grouping together various historical instances of obstruction from different reigns to highlight the persistent and determined nature of their adversaries. While verses 1-5 refer to opposition during the time of King Cyrus and Darius, and verse 6 to King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), verse 7 jumps forward to the reign of Artaxerxes I. This is a significant temporal shift, as Artaxerxes I Longimanus was the king under whom both Ezra (in Ezra 7) and Nehemiah primarily operated. This chronological leap emphasizes that opposition to God's people and His work was not a single event but a long-standing, recurring challenge, underscoring the spiritual warfare inherent in the exiles' efforts. The verse specifically sets the stage for a critical official complaint that successfully halted the rebuilding for a time.

Ezra 4 7 Word analysis

• And in the days of Artaxerxes: This phrase marks a new temporal setting in the sequence of opposition against Jerusalem's rebuilding. It explicitly names Artaxerxes (Aramaic: `Artakhshashta'`, ארתחששתא), who is understood to be Artaxerxes I Longimanus (reigned 465–424 BC). This is a crucial chronological indicator within Ezra 4, which jumps between various kings (Cyrus, Darius, Ahasuerus, and now Artaxerxes I) to show the breadth and duration of hostile efforts.
• Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel: These are specific names of individuals involved in initiating the complaint. Their identification points to a level of organization and specific figures leading the opposition. Mithredath (מיתרדת), being a Persian name meaning "given by Mithra" (a prominent Persian deity), suggests his potential high office or connection to Persian administration. Tabeel (טבאל), meaning "God is good," is Aramaic in origin and might point to a local non-Israelite leader from the Trans-Euphrates province. Their specific mention gives an air of officiality and concrete historical grounding to the opposition.
• and the rest of their associates: This phrase indicates that the individuals named were not acting alone but were part of a larger, organized collective. It signifies a unified front of adversaries, demonstrating the extent of local resistance to the Jews' work, and implying a network of influential figures and local populations who resented the Jewish returnees and their endeavors.
• wrote to Artaxerxes of Persia: This details the direct action taken: composing an official letter addressed to the supreme ruler of the Persian Empire. The phrase "of Persia" (Aramaic: מלך פרס) underscores the king's imperial authority and the vast reach of his domain. The action of writing to the king implies leveraging formal legal and political channels within the empire, indicating a sophisticated and influential attempt to thwart the rebuilding.
• And the letter was written in Aramaic and translated: This is a highly significant detail.
  • Aramaic (Aramaic: `Aramîyṯ`, ארמית): Imperial Aramaic was the administrative language of the Persian Empire's western satrapies (provinces). Writing in Aramaic indicates that the letter was composed in the proper official language for administrative correspondence intended for the imperial chancery, ensuring it would be understood and processed.
  • translated (Aramaic: `umĕturgam`, ומתרגם): The root `t-r-g-m` (תרגם) means "to translate" or "to interpret." In this context, it primarily indicates that the text that follows (Ezra 4:8 to 6:18, and also Ezra 7:12-26) is the direct, quoted Aramaic text of the original letter and subsequent decrees. This phrase marks the significant linguistic shift in the biblical text itself, where the inspired Hebrew author faithfully presents authentic, verbatim imperial documents in their original Aramaic language, thus validating their historical authenticity. Some scholars also interpret it to mean that the letter was effectively communicated to the king or accurately interpreted, emphasizing its impact.

Ezra 4 7 Bonus section

The Aramaic section of Ezra (Ezra 4:8 to 6:18 and Ezra 7:12-26) contains highly valuable historical documents, including actual letters and decrees. The statement "and translated" in Ezra 4:7 acts as a specific literary device, alerting the reader that the biblical narrative is now about to incorporate these authentic Aramaic documents directly. This practice lends significant weight to the historical veracity of the biblical account, demonstrating that the authors had access to, and faithfully preserved, original administrative correspondence of the Persian Empire relevant to God's people. This integration of foreign archival material further cements the Book of Ezra's place as a reliable historical record concerning the post-exilic period and God's sovereign oversight of both pagan empires and His covenant people.

Ezra 4 7 Commentary

Ezra 4:7 serves as a pivotal bridge within the Book of Ezra, strategically placed to illustrate the pervasive and enduring nature of opposition faced by the returned exiles. It re-establishes a later chronological setting under Artaxerxes I, indicating that hostile efforts to halt the Temple's reconstruction were not isolated incidents but a consistent, multi-generational challenge. The detailed mention of specific adversaries—Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, backed by a broader network of associates—highlights the organized and deliberate nature of this resistance. Crucially, their method was bureaucratic: they penned a formal letter to the reigning emperor. The specific detail that this letter was composed in Imperial Aramaic, the lingua franca for administrative communication in the western Persian Empire, underscores the legality and seriousness of their complaint. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for a legally executed halt to God's work, showcasing that the battle for Jerusalem's restoration was fought not just with physical obstacles but also through the formidable channels of imperial politics and law, emphasizing the need for divine intervention in the face of such powerful, structured opposition.