Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Ezra 4:21

Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Artaxerxes;   Bishlam;   Persia;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Samaritans;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Artaxerxes;   Ezra;   Samaria, samaritans;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Darius;   Rehum;   Shimshai;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Darius;   Ezra, the Book of;   Haggai;   Persia;   Shimshai;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Exile;   Ezra, Book of;   Rehum;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Darius;   Ezra, Book of;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ezra, Book of;   Rehum ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Artaxerxes;   Persia;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Per'sia;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Tax;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Artaxerxes;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Aramaic Language among the Jews;   Esdras, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a further decree has been pronounced by me.
Hebrew Names Version
Make you now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me.
King James Version
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
English Standard Version
Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
New Century Version
Now, give an order for those men to stop work. The city of Jerusalem will not be rebuilt until I say so.
New English Translation
Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.
Amplified Bible
"So, now issue a decree to make these men stop [work], so that this city is not rebuilt until a [new] command is issued by me.
New American Standard Bible
"Now issue a decree to make those men stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.
World English Bible
Make you now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Make ye now a decree, that those men may cease, and that the citie be not buylt, till I haue giuen another commandement.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now issue a decree to make those men stop, that this city may not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.
Berean Standard Bible
Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
Contemporary English Version
I want you to command the people to stop rebuilding the city until I give further notice.
Complete Jewish Bible
"So now, order that these men stop work and that this city not be rebuilt until I order it.
Darby Translation
Now give order to make these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until the order shall be given from me;
Easy-to-Read Version
Now, you must give an order for these men to stop work. That order must be given to keep Jerusalem from being rebuilt until I say so.
George Lamsa Translation
Now therefore make a decree causing these men to cease, and that this city should not be built until a commandment shall be given by me.
Good News Translation
Therefore you are to issue orders that those men are to stop rebuilding the city until I give further commands.
Lexham English Bible
So now, issue forth a decree that these men stop and this city not be built, until a decree is issued from me.
Literal Translation
Now make a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be rebuilt until the decree shall be given from me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Do ye now after this commaundemet, forbyd the same men, that the cite be not builded, tyll I haue geue comaundemet.
American Standard Version
Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
Bible in Basic English
Give an order now, that these men are to do nothing more, and that the building of the town is to be stopped, till I give an order.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Geue ye nowe therefore commaundement, that the same men be forbidden, and that the citie be not builded againe, till I haue geuen another commaundement.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
King James Version (1611)
Giue ye now commandement, to cause these men to cease, and that this citie be not builded, vntill another commandement shall be giuen from me.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Now therefore make a decree to stop the work of those men, and that city shall no more be built.
English Revised Version
Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Now therfor here ye the sentence, that ye forbede tho men, and that thilke citee be not bildid, til if perauenture it be comaundid of me.
Update Bible Version
Make now a decree to cause these [work]men to cease, and that this city shall not be built, until a decree shall be made by me.
Webster's Bible Translation
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until [another] commandment shall be given from me.
New Living Translation
Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command.
New Life Bible
So give word to these men to make them stop the work. This city may not be built again until I allow it.
New Revised Standard
Therefore issue an order that these people be made to cease, and that this city not be rebuilt, until I make a decree.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, issue ye an edict, to forbid these men, - that, this city, be not built, until, from me, the edict be issued.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore hear the sentence: Hinder those men, that this city be not built, till further orders be given by me.
Revised Standard Version
Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
Young's Literal Translation
`Now, make ye a decree to cause these men to cease, and this city is not builded, till by me a decree is made.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So, now issue a decree to make these men stop work, that this city may not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.

Contextual Overview

17 The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. [fn] 18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. 19 And I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. 20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. 21 Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? 23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Give ye: etc. Chal, Make a decree, Ezra 4:19

Reciprocal: Ezra 6:8 - hindered

Cross-References

Genesis 4:11
So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Genesis 4:12
When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."
Genesis 31:27
Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?
Job 21:12
They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.
Isaiah 5:12
The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the LORD, Nor consider the operation of His hands.
Amos 6:5
Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease,.... From building:

and that this city be not builded until another commandment shall be given from me; he might suspect that this case, in all its circumstances, was not truly stated, and that hereafter he might see reason to recede from the present orders he gave; and the rather, as by searching, and perhaps on his own knowledge, must have observed, that his father Cyrus had shown favour to the Jews, and had not only set them at liberty, but had encouraged them to rebuild their temple; which might be what they were about, and was the case, and nothing else, except their houses to dwell in.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Until another commandment shall be given from me. — The rebuilding was only provisionally suspended. The decree was, Let it cease for the present; nor let it proceed at any time without an order express from me.


 
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