Ezra 4 · Verse 21

Ezra 4:21

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.
Ezra 4:21, King James Version

Ezra 4:21 in other translations

BSBNow, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
WEBMake a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.
ASVMake 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.
YLT‘Now, make ye a decree to cause these men to cease, and this city is not builded, till by me a decree is made.
DARBYNow give order to make these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until the order shall be given from me;
BBEGive 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.
WebsterGive ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another commandment shall be given from me.

What does Ezra 4:21 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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.

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 4:21 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.

כְּעַן֙ke.'AnnowH3705
שִׂ֣ימוּSi.mumakeH7761
טְּעֵ֔םte.'Ema decreeH2942
לְבַטָּלָ֖אle.va.ta.La'to make to ceaseH989
גֻּבְרַיָּ֣אguv.rai.Ya'men theH1400
אִלֵּ֑ךְ'i.LekhtheseH479
וְקִרְיְתָ֥אve.kir.ye.Ta'and city theH7149
דָךְ֙doKhthisH1791
לָ֣אla'notH3809
תִתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'it will be builtH1124
עַד\־'ad-untilH5705
מִנִּ֖יmi.Nifrom meH4481
טַעְמָ֥אta'.Ma'decree theH2942
יִתְּשָֽׂם\׃yi.te.Samit will be madeH7761

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Give ye, etc. Chal. Make a decree.
19

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Ezra 4:21

    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.

  • Ezra 4:22

    Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

Read all of Ezra 4

Ezra 4:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ahora pues dad orden que cesen aquellos hombres, y no sea esa ciudad edificada, hasta que por mí sea dado mandamiento.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi, donnez ordre de faire cesser ces hommes, et que cette ville ne soit pas bâtie, jusqu’à ce que l’ordre en soit donné de par moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So gebet nun Befehl, diesen Männern zu wehren, damit diese Stadt nicht wieder aufgebaut werde, bis von mir Befehl gegeben wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc ergo audite sententiam: prohibeatis viros illos, ut urbs illa non ædificetur donec si forte a me jussum fuerit.