Ezra 4 · Verse 13

Ezra 4:13

Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
Ezra 4:13, King James Version

Ezra 4:13 in other translations

BSBLet it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
WEBBe it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
ASVBe it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings.
YLT‘Now, be it known to the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls finished, toll, tribute, and custom they do not give; and at length to the kings it doth cause loss.
DARBYBe it known therefore unto the king, that, if this city be built and the walls be completed, they will not pay tribute, tax, and toll, and in the end it will bring damage to the kings.
BBEThe king may be certain that when the building of this town and its walls is complete, they will give no tax or payment in goods or forced payments, and in the end it will be a cause of loss to the kings.
WebsterBe it known now to the king, that, if this city shall be built, and the walls set up again, then they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou wilt endamage the revenue of the kings.

What does Ezra 4:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. toll, tribute, and custom--The first was a poll tax; the second was a property tax; the third the excise dues on articles of trade and merchandise. Their letter, and the edict that followed, commanding an immediate cessation of the work at the city walls, form the exclusive subject of narrative at Ezr 4:7-23. And now from this digression [the historian] returns at Ezr 4:24 to resume the thread of his narrative concerning the building of the temple.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Toll, tribute, and custom - The first term is supposed to imply the capitation tax; the second, an excise on commodities and merchandise; the third, a sort of land tax. Others suppose the first means a property tax; the second, a poll tax; and the third, what was paid on imports and exports. In a word, if you permit these people to rebuild and fortify their city, they will soon set you at naught, and pay you no kind of tribute.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezra 4:6-24

It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they…

Read the full comment on Ezra 4:6-24 →

Ezra 4:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כְּעַ֗ןke.'AnnowH3705
יְדִ֙יעַ֙ye.Di.a'knownH3046
לֶהֱוֵ֣אle.he.Ve'let it beH1934
לְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'to king theH4430
דִּ֠יdithatH1768
הֵ֣ןhenifH2006
קִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'city theH7149
דָךְ֙doKhthisH1791
תִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'it will be builtH1124
וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'and walls theH7792
יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.Lunthey will be finishedH3635
מִנְדָּֽה\־min.dah-tributeH4061
בְל֤וֹve.LotaxH1093
וַהֲלָךְ֙va.ha.loKhand tollH1983
לָ֣אla'notH3809
יִנְתְּנ֔וּןyin.te.Nunthey will giveH5415
וְאַפְּתֹ֥םve.'a.pe.Tomand certainlyH674
מַלְכִ֖יםmal.KhimkingsH4430
תְּהַנְזִֽק\׃te.han.Zikit will injureH5142

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezra 4:13

  • Ezra 7:24

    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.

  • Nehemiah 5:4

    There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

  • Romans 13:6-7

    For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

  • Matthew 17:25

    He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

  • Psalms 119:69

    The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

  • Ezra 4:20

    There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

  • Matthew 9:9

    And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

  • Psalms 52:2

    Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if this city.
Ne 5:4; Ps 52:2; 119:69
pay. Chal. give. toll.
7:24; Mt 9:9; 17:25; Ro 13:6,7
revenue. or, strength.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezra 4:12

    Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

  • Ezra 4:13

    Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

  • Ezra 4:14

    Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

Read all of Ezra 4

Ezra 4:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ahora, notorio sea al rey, que si aquella ciudad fuere reedificada, y los muros fueren establecidos, el tributo, pecho, y rentas no darán, y el catastro de lo reyes será menoscabado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que le roi sache donc que si cette ville est bâtie et que ses murailles s’achèvent, ils ne paieront ni tribut, ni impôt, ni péage, et, plus tard, cela portera préjudice aux rois.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So sei nun dem König kundgetan, daß, wenn diese Stadt wieder aufgebaut wird, und die Mauern vollendet werden, sie Steuer, Zoll und Weggeld nicht mehr geben werden, und solches schließlich die Könige benachteiligen wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc igitur notum sit regi, quia si civitas illa ædificata fuerit, et muri ejus instaurati, tributum, et vectigal, et annuos reditus non dabunt, et usque ad reges hæc noxa perveniet.