Ezra 4:22
What does Ezra 4:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 4:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 4:22 means
The king urges diligence: do not be slack in enforcing the halt, lest damage grow to the kings’ hurt. Fear of escalating loss drives urgency. This instruction empowers the adversaries with both authority and momentum. The verse illustrates how official caution can morph into aggressive suppression when local actors are eager to comply. The stress on potential damage frames Jerusalem’s rebuilding as a present danger rather than a distant possibility, justifying immediate and firm action against the project.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Be certain to do this with all care: do not let trouble be increased to the king's damage.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And beware ye of negligence in doing this; why doth the hurt become great to the loss of the kings?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and take heed that ye fail not to do this: why should harm grow to the damage of the kings?
Context
Following the decree in verse 21, verse 22 presses for strict, prompt enforcement. The letter’s tone authorizes decisive local intervention. Unsurprisingly, verse 23 will report swift action—Rehum, Shimshai, and their companions going in haste to Jerusalem to shut down the work by force. This culminates in verse 24’s summary of the cessation, bridging back to the earlier timeline under Darius.
v.21Make 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.
v.22This passage
v.23Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 3:8
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
- Esther 7:3
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
- Ezra 4:13
Be 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.