Ezra 6:11 kjv
Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
Ezra 6:11 nkjv
Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this.
Ezra 6:11 niv
Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble.
Ezra 6:11 esv
Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.
Ezra 6:11 nlt
"Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble.
Ezra 6 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:5-6 | "whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed" | Divine decree for capital punishment. |
| Deut 21:22-23 | "If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and you hang him..." | Mention of hanging as a severe public execution. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | "...those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." | Consequence for disrespecting divine will/authority. |
| Est 7:9-10 | "...Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made... So they hanged Haman..." | Public execution of an enemy of God's people. |
| Ps 7:15-16 | "He digs a pit and falls into it... His mischief comes down on his own head." | Judgment turning back on the wicked. |
| Ps 107:34 | "...fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness..." | Land (or house) rendered desolate due to wickedness. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD..." | God's sovereignty over the hearts of kings. |
| Prov 24:21-22 | "...fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise... ruin will rise suddenly..." | Warning against defiance of God and legitimate authority. |
| Isa 5:25 | "Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people..." | Divine judgment and devastation. |
| Isa 34:10 | "...none shall pass through it forever and ever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste..." | Imagery of eternal desolation and ruin. |
| Jer 22:5 | "...this house shall become a desolation." | House becoming desolate due to disobedience. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's ultimate control over all rulers. |
| Zec 1:6 | "...Did not my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets..." | Consequences of ignoring divine commands. |
| Zec 8:9-10 | "...Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words..." | Encouragement for rebuilding despite opposition. |
| Matt 21:12-13 | "My house shall be called a house of prayer... you have made it a den of robbers." | Holiness of God's Temple and judgment on its defilers. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities... Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed..." | Submission to governing authority, divinely ordained. |
| Rom 13:4 | "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain." | Ruler as an instrument of divine justice. |
| 2 Cor 10:4 | "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." | God's power over opposing forces, spiritual context. |
| Rev 2:26-27 | "To the one who conquers and who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations..." | Future authority over nations, aligned with divine will. |
| Rev 18:21 | "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence..." | Utter destruction as a result of divine judgment. |
| Mal 4:6 | "...I will come and strike the earth with a curse." | Consequence of persistent disobedience. |
| Isa 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped..." | God working through pagan kings for His purposes. |
Ezra 6 verses
Ezra 6 11 Meaning
Ezra 6:11 declares a severe royal decree from King Darius. It states that anyone who alters or defies his command concerning the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem will face a horrific punishment: a beam will be torn from their own house, they will be impaled upon it, and their house will be utterly demolished and reduced to a refuse heap. This demonstrates the king's absolute authority and the protective favor extended by God, through the king, toward His people and the Temple work.
Ezra 6 11 Context
Ezra chapter 6 details the culmination of the efforts to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After years of interruption and opposition, a new generation of leaders, spurred by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, recommenced the work. Local adversaries challenged their authority, appealing to King Darius I. Upon investigation, a decree from King Cyrus was found in the archives, confirming permission and funding for the temple's reconstruction. Darius, recognizing the validity of this earlier edict and likely seeking imperial stability in the satrapy Beyond the River, reissued and strengthened it. Verse 11 is part of Darius's definitive decree, which not only reaffirmed the Jews' right to build but also mandated severe punishment for anyone daring to hinder or defy the temple's construction. This royal backing turned the tide decisively in favor of the returned exiles.
Ezra 6 11 Word analysis
- Whosoever (וּמַן - u-man): An Aramaic interrogative pronoun used here as an indefinite relative pronoun, "whoever." It signifies that the decree applies universally to anyone who dares to transgress, without exception.
- Shall alter (יְשַׁנֵּא - yəshannēʾ): From the root shanā, meaning "to change, to repeat." In this context, it implies any attempt to modify, defy, or obstruct the royal decree. This emphasizes the inviolable nature of imperial commands.
- This (דְּנָה - dənāh) decree (טְעֵם - ṭəʿēm): Dənāh is a demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to the specific edict concerning the Temple. Ṭəʿēm is an Aramaic word for "decree," "order," or "decision." Its usage underscores the binding legal force of Darius's pronouncement.
- A timber (קֶצֶה - qēṣāʾ): Specifically refers to a "beam" or "piece of wood," likely a large, structural beam. The particularity of using a beam from the transgressor's own house makes the punishment uniquely personal and symbolic of destruction brought upon oneself.
- From his house (מִבַּיְתֵהּ - min-baytēh): Emphasizes personal forfeiture and the severe irony of destruction stemming from one's own domestic source. It connects the crime directly to the personal dwelling of the offender.
- Let it be pulled out (יִתְנְדֵּא - yitnəddēʾ): An Aramaic verb meaning "to be torn down, plucked out." This denotes the forcible removal of the beam, highlighting the brutal nature of the penalty and the public shame associated with it.
- And set up (וְיִתְמְחֵא - wəyitəmaḥēʾ): Often interpreted as "let him be impaled" or "hanged upon." This describes the form of execution, a cruel and humiliating death involving public display on the removed beam, akin to crucifixion or a form of stake impalement common in the ancient Near East for high treason.
- And for this cause (וְלֶאֱנָה - wəlaʾănāh): "And for this matter/account." Clearly states that the following consequence is directly punitive for the specific transgression of defying the decree.
- Let his house be made (בַּיְתֵהּ - baytēh) a dunghill (נְוָלוּ - nəwālû): Baytēh is "his house." Nəwālû* means "rubble heap" or "dunghill." This signifies total destruction, desecration, and perpetual shame, making the place uninhabitable and defiled, effectively erasing the family's legacy and property from memory. This form of collective punishment was a deterrent.
- "Whosoever shall alter this decree": This phrase identifies the specific transgression as any interference with or deviation from the royal mandate regarding the Temple. It underlines the Persian king's absolute authority and the severe consequences for disobeying imperial law, particularly when it concerned a divinely-sanctioned project like the Temple.
- "A timber from his house be pulled out and set up, and he be impaled on it": This details a unique and gruesome capital punishment. The use of a timber from one's own house turns a personal possession into an instrument of ultimate judgment, emphasizing the profound self-inflicted nature of the consequences of defying the king. The act of impalement, distinct from typical hanging, was known in Assyrian and Persian practices for especially severe offenses or to assert brutal power.
- "And for this cause his house be made a dunghill": This refers to posthumous disgrace and the utter destruction of the transgressor's home and legacy. A "dunghill" symbolized total desolation, filth, and permanent ruin, stripping the family of its inheritance and standing in the community. It also served as a clear, visible warning to others.
Ezra 6 11 Bonus section
The Aramaic phrasing of Darius's decree emphasizes legal precision and the solemnity of the pronouncement. The punishment outlined, while brutal, reflects methods of asserting imperial dominance common in the ancient Near East, notably seen in Assyrian and Babylonian empires as well, though the specifics varied. The concept of one's house becoming a "dunghill" or "rubble heap" carries profound cultural implications beyond mere destruction; it signifies permanent defilement and utter societal disgrace, implying a curse and an obliteration of lineage or reputation. The Jews would have recognized in this a parallel to the curses warned against in the Law for those who disobeyed God. From a theological standpoint, this decree serves as a powerful reminder that even foreign monarchs can be unwitting instruments in God's larger redemptive narrative, clearing obstacles and providing protection for His people and their divine tasks. It highlights that opposition to God's work, no matter how powerful or insidious, ultimately leads to divine judgment, often manifested through surprising channels.
Ezra 6 11 Commentary
Ezra 6:11 unveils King Darius's forceful resolution to uphold the decree regarding the Jerusalem Temple. Far from being a mere reiteration, it elevates the Temple's protection to the highest imperial priority by associating any hindrance with severe, immediate, and utterly humiliating consequences. The chosen punishment—impaling the transgressor on a beam from their own house, followed by the demolition of that house into a refuse heap—is intentionally brutal and public. It served as a stark deterrent, a public demonstration of imperial power, and a collective punishment designed to terrify potential opposition. This reflects not only Darius's practical aim to maintain order within his vast empire but also, from a biblical perspective, God's providential working through pagan authorities. This verse vividly illustrates that the completion of God's redemptive plans often involves His intervention in the hearts and decrees of worldly rulers, showcasing His ultimate sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant people, protecting the very place where His Name was to dwell and be honored.