Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Ezra 4:6

These enemies even wrote letters to the king of Persia trying to stop the Jews. They wrote a letter the year that Xerxes became the king of Persia.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Accusation, False;   Joshua;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Medo-Persian Kingdom;   Temple, the Second;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ahasuerus;   Darius;   Persia;   Samaritans;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahasuerus;   Samaria, samaritans;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Samaritans;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ahasuerus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Ezra, the Book of;   Haggai;   Persia;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exile;   Ezra, Book of;   Zerubbabel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ahasuerus;   Darius;   Ezra, Book of;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahasuerus ;   Ezra, Book of;   Persia, Persians;   Sitnah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ahasuerus;   Assyria;   Persia;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahashve'rosh;   Ahasue'rus;   Per'sia;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Ahasuerus;   Cambyses;   Jerusalem;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   Cambyses;   Ezra-Nehemiah;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Captivity;   Esther;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who were already in the land wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.
Hebrew Names Version
In the reign of Achashverosh, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Yehudah and Yerushalayim.
King James Version
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
English Standard Version
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
New Century Version
When Xerxes first became king, those enemies wrote a letter against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
New English Translation
At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus they filed an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Amplified Bible
Now in the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), in the beginning of his reign, the Samaritans wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem [who had returned from exile].
New American Standard Bible
Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
World English Bible
In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And in the reigne of Ahashuerosh (in the beginning of his reigne) wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Contemporary English Version
In the first year that Xerxes was king, the neighboring people brought written charges against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Complete Jewish Bible
During the reign of Achashverosh, at the beginning of his reign, they brought a charge in writing against the people living in Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.
Darby Translation
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
George Lamsa Translation
And in the reign of King Akhshirash, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Good News Translation
At the beginning of the reign of Emperor Xerxes, the enemies of the people living in Judah and Jerusalem brought written charges against them.
Lexham English Bible
In the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Literal Translation
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan Ahasuerus was kynge, in the begynnynge off his reigne wrote they vnto him a complaynte agaynst them of Iuda and Ierusalem.
American Standard Version
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Bible in Basic English
And in the time of Ahasuerus, when he first became king, they put on record a statement against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And in the raigne of Ahasuerus, euen at the beginning of his raigne, wrote they vnto him a complaynt against the inhabiters of Iuda and Hierusalem.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
King James Version (1611)
And in the reigne of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reigne, wrote they vnto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And in the reign of Assuerus, even in the beginning of his reign, they wrote a letter against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.
English Revised Version
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe in the rewme of Assueris, he is Artaxersis, in the bigynnyng of his rewme, thei writiden accusing ayens the dwellers of Juda and of Jerusalem;
Update Bible Version
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Webster's Bible Translation
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
New King James Version
In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
New Living Translation
Years later when Xerxes began his reign, the enemies of Judah wrote a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
New Life Bible
In the beginning of Ahasuerus' rule, people of the land wrote that the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem had done something wrong.
New Revised Standard
In the reign of Ahasuerus, in his accession year, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation, against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And in the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.
Revised Standard Version
And in the reign of Ahasu-e'rus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Young's Literal Translation
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the commencement of his reign, they have written an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem;
THE MESSAGE
In fact, in the reign of Xerxes, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against those living in Judah and Jerusalem.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

Contextual Overview

6 These enemies even wrote letters to the king of Persia trying to stop the Jews. They wrote a letter the year that Xerxes became the king of Persia. 7 Later, when Artaxerxes became the new king of Persia, some of these men wrote another letter complaining about the Jews. The men who wrote the letter were Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the other people in their group. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated. 8 Then Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against the people of Jerusalem. They wrote the letter to Artaxerxes the king. This is what they wrote: 9 From Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, and from the judges and important officials over the men from Tripolis, Persia, Erech, and Babylon, and from the Elamites from Susa, 10 and from the other people who the great and powerful Ashurbanipal moved to the city of Samaria and other places in the country west of the Euphrates River. 11 This is the copy of the letter sent to King Artaxerxes: From your servants living in the area west of the Euphrates River. 12 King Artaxerxes, we wish to inform you that the Jews you sent from there are now in Jerusalem. They are trying to rebuild that terrible city. The people there have always rebelled against other kings. Now they have almost finished repairing the foundations and building the walls. 13 Also, King Artaxerxes, you should know that if Jerusalem and its walls are rebuilt, the people of Jerusalem will stop paying their taxes. They will stop sending money to honor you. They also will stop paying customs fees, and the king will lose all that money. 14 We have a responsibility to the king. We don't want to see this happen, so we are sending this letter to inform the king. 15 King Artaxerxes, we suggest that you search the writings of the kings who ruled before you. You will see in the writings that Jerusalem always rebelled against other kings. It has caused much trouble for other kings and nations. Many rebellions have started in this city since ancient times. That is why Jerusalem was destroyed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3475, bc 529

Ahasuerus: Heb. Ahashverosh, This was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who succeeded his father, am 3475, and reigned seven years and five months.

wrote: Matthew 27:37, Acts 24:5-9, Acts 24:13, Acts 25:7, Revelation 12:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:21 - Sitnah Esther 1:1 - Ahasuerus Daniel 11:2 - three

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Cain. Eve said, "With the Lord 's help, I have made a man!"
Genesis 4:3
At harvest time, Cain brought a gift to the Lord . He brought some of the food that he grew from the ground, but Abel brought some animals from his flock. He chose some of his best sheep and brought the best parts from them. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift.
Genesis 4:5
But he did not accept Cain and his offering. Cain was sad because of this, and he became very angry.
Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." So they went to the field. Then Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4:13
Then Cain said to the Lord , "This punishment is more than I can bear!
Job 5:2
A fool's anger will kill him. His jealousy will destroy him.
Isaiah 1:18
"I, the Lord , am the one speaking to you. Come, let's discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.
Jeremiah 2:5
This is what the Lord says: "Do you think that I was not fair to your ancestors? Is that why they turned away from me? Your ancestors worshiped worthless idols, and they became worthless themselves.
Jeremiah 2:31
People of this generation, pay attention to the Lord 's message! "Have I been like a desert to the people of Israel? Have I been like a dark and dangerous land to them? My people say, ‘We are free to go our own way. We will not come back to you!' Why do they say these things?
Matthew 20:15
I can do what I want with my own money. Why would you be jealous because I am generous?'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign,.... According to Jarchi, this was Ahasuerus the husband of Esther; but, as most think d, was Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus; so Josephus e; who was an enemy to the Egyptians; and, fearing the Jews might take part with them, was no friend to them; their enemies therefore took the advantage of the death of Cyrus, and the first opportunity after Cambyses reigned in his own right:

and wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem; full of hatred and enmity, spite and malice, charging them as a turbulent, disobedient, and rebellious people.

d Spanhem. Introduct. Chron. ad Hist. Eccl. p. 54. & Universal History, Vol. 5. p. 203. Prideaux, p. 175. e Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 4.) sect. 4, 6. Vid. R. David Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 2. fol. 8. 2. So Dr. Lightfoot, Works, vol. 1. p. 139.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ahasuerus - Or, Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus. Persian kings had often two names.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezra 4:6. In the reign of Ahasuerus — This is the person who is called Cambyses by the Greeks. He reigned seven years and five months; and during the whole of that time the building of the temple was interrupted.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile