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Good News Translation

Ezra 7:24

You are forbidden to collect any taxes from the priests, Levites, musicians, guards, workers, or anyone else connected with this Temple.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church and State;   Liberality;   Minister, Christian;   Nethinims;   Priest;   Tax;   Temple;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ezra;   Leaders;   Priests;   Religious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Nethinim;   Tribute;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Language;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Artaxerxes;   Ezra;   Malachi;   Persia;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Priest, Priesthood;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Chaldee Language;   Minister;   Nethinim;   Toll;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chaldaea;   Ezra, the Book of;   Nethinim;   Persia;   Province;   Taxes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Aramaic;   Artaxerxes;   Ezra, Book of;   Hebrew;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bible;   Ezra;   Ezra, Book of;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Nethinim;   Priests and Levites;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Tribute, Toll, Taxing;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Language of Christ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Aramaic;   Bible,;   Custom;   Nethinim ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ezra;   Persia;   Tax taxing taxation;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bi'ble;   Per'sia;   Taxes;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Government of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Aramaic Language;   Bible, the;   Certify;   Custom (1);   Ezra-Nehemiah;   Nethinim;   Priests and Levites;   Solomon's Servants;   Tax;   Toll;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Confiscation and Forfeiture;   Ezra the Scribe;   Government;   Levites (Temple Servants);   Nethinim;   Rabbi;   Taxation;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Be advised that you do not have authority to impose tribute, duty, and land tax on any priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Hebrew Names Version
Also we inform you, that touching any of the Kohanim and Levites, the singers, porters, temple servants, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
King James Version
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
English Standard Version
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
New Century Version
Remember, you must not make these people pay taxes of any kind: priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants, and other workers in this Temple of God.
New English Translation
Furthermore, be aware of the fact that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.
Amplified Bible
"We also inform you that it is not authorized to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants or other servants of this house of God.
New American Standard Bible
"We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
World English Bible
Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And we certifie you, that vpon any of the Priestes, Leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or Ministers in this house of God, there shall no gouernour laye vpon them tolle, tribute nor custome.
Legacy Standard Bible
We also make known to you that it is not allowed to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Berean Standard Bible
And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Contemporary English Version
We want you to know that no priests, Levites, musicians, guards, temple servants, or any other temple workers will have to pay any kind of taxes.
Complete Jewish Bible
Moreover, we herewith proclaim to you that it will be illegal to impose tribute, taxes or tolls on any of the cohanim, L'vi'im, singers, gatekeepers, servants or laborers in this house of God.
Darby Translation
Also we inform you, as regards all the priests and Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, and ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, tax, and toll upon them.
Easy-to-Read Version
I want you men to know that it is against the law to make the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants, and other workers in God's Temple pay taxes. They don't have to pay taxes, money to honor the king, or any customs fees.
George Lamsa Translation
Also we inform you that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, and the workers of the house of God, it is unlawful for you to interfere with them.
Lexham English Bible
You also should be aware that it is not permitted to place tax, tribute, or duty upon all of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, and other servants of the house of God.
Literal Translation
Also, we notify you that in regard to any of the priests and the Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple-slaves, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, taxes, or forced labor on them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And knowne be it vnto you, that ye shall haue no auctorite to requyre taxinge & custome, and yearly rentes vpon eny of the prestes, Leuites, syngers, porters, Nethinims and mynisters in ye house of this God.
American Standard Version
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.
Bible in Basic English
In addition, we make it clear to you, that it will be against the law to put any tax or payment in goods or forced payment on any of the priests or Levites, the music-makers, door-keepers, Nethinim, or any servants of this house of God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And we certifie you, that ye haue no aucthoritie to require taxing and custome and yerely rentes, vpon any of the priestes, leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of his God.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Also we announce to you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, impost, or toll, upon them.
King James Version (1611)
Also we certifie you, that touching any of the priests, and Leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawfull to impose tolle, tribute, or custome vpon them.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Also this has been declared to you, with respect to all the priests, and Levites, the singers, porters, Nathinim and ministers of the house of God, let no tribute be paid to thee; thou shalt not have power to oppress them.
English Revised Version
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also we make knowun to you of alle the preestis, and dekenes, syngeris, and porteris, and Nathyneis, and mynystris of the hows of this God, `that ye han not power to put on hem tol, and tribute, and costis for keperis of the lond.
Update Bible Version
Also we inform you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
Webster's Bible Translation
Also we certify you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them.
New King James Version
Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.
New Living Translation
I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.'
New Life Bible
We also let you know that it is not allowed to take any taxes from any of the religious leaders, Levites, singers, door-keepers, or servants of this house of God.
New Revised Standard
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, you, we do certify, that, as touching any of the priests or the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the Nethinim, or the servitors of this house of God, tribute, excise or toll, shall it not be competent to impose upon them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
We give you also to understand concerning all the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nathinites, and ministers of the house of this God, that you have no authority to impose toll or tribute, or custom upon them.
Revised Standard Version
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll upon any one of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Young's Literal Translation
`And to you we are making known, that upon any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of the house of God, tribute and custom there is no authority to lift up.
THE MESSAGE
Also, let it be clear that no one is permitted to impose tribute, tax, or duty on any priest, Levite, singer, temple security guard, temple servant, or any other worker connected with The Temple of God.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.

Contextual Overview

11 Emperor Artaxerxes gave the following document to Ezra, the priest and scholar, who had a thorough knowledge of the laws and commands which the Lord had given to Israel: 12 "From Emperor Artaxerxes to the priest Ezra, scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven. 13 "I command that throughout my empire all the Israelite people, priests, and Levites that so desire be permitted to go with you to Jerusalem. 14 I, together with my seven counselors, send you to investigate the conditions in Jerusalem and Judah in order to see how well the Law of your God, which has been entrusted to you, is being obeyed. 15 You are to take with you the gold and silver offerings which I and my counselors desire to give to the God of Israel, whose Temple is in Jerusalem. 16 You are also to take all the silver and gold which you collect throughout the province of Babylon and the offerings which the Israelite people and their priests give for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 "You are to spend this money carefully and buy bulls, rams, lambs, grain, and wine and offer them on the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem. 18 You may use the silver and gold that is left over for whatever you and your people desire, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 You are to present to God in Jerusalem all the utensils that have been given to you for use in the Temple services. 20 And anything else which you need for the Temple, you may get from the royal treasury.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

touching any: Ezra 7:7, Ezra 2:36-55

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:22 - for the priests 1 Samuel 17:25 - free in Israel 1 Chronicles 9:33 - the singers 1 Chronicles 15:16 - And David Ezra 4:13 - toll Ezra 8:15 - and found Nehemiah 9:37 - it yieldeth Nehemiah 13:14 - house Matthew 22:17 - is

Cross-References

Genesis 7:3
Take also seven pairs of each kind of bird. Do this so that every kind of animal and bird will be kept alive to reproduce again on the earth.
Genesis 7:4
Seven days from now I am going to send rain that will fall for forty days and nights, in order to destroy all the living beings that I have made."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God,.... The king had a right and perfect knowledge of the distinct offices and services of those persons, see Ezra 7:7,

it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them; that they might be the less encumbered with the affairs of life, and be more at leisure to attend divine service, and do it the more readily and freely; it was usual with the Heathens to except ecclesiastics from taxes, tributes, and imposts; so the priests in Egypt w, and the Druids here in Britain x.

w Diodor. Sicul. l. 1. p. 66. x Caesar. Comment. de Bello Gall. l. 6. c. 13.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The decree of Artaxerxes was more favorable to the Jews than those of all previous Persian monarchs. We hear of a similar exemption of ecclesiastics from tribute, only to a less extent, under the Seleucidae.

Ministers - The rare word here used, which in Daniel has the sense of “worshippers,” appears to designate in this place the lowest class of persons employed in the service of the temple.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 24. It shall not be lawful to impose toll — As these persons had no private revenues, it would have been unreasonable to have laid them under taxation.


 
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