Ezra 4:23
What does Ezra 4:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 4:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 4:23 means
On receiving the king’s letter, Rehum, Shimshai, and their companions hurry to Jerusalem and compel the Jews to stop by “force and power.” This shows how paper decrees become painful realities. The officials do not merely notify; they enforce, using the backing of imperial authority to override local determination. The scene captures a sobering truth: sincere obedience can be checked by coercion, at least for a time. Yet even this setback lies within God’s larger plan, which will later move a different king to support the work anew. For now, the adversaries appear to triumph through speed and strength.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then, after reading the king's letter, Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their friends went quickly to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and had them stopped by force.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Then from the time that a copy of the letter of king Artaxerxes is read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they have gone in haste to Jerusalem, unto the Jews, and caused them to cease by force and strength;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now the copy of the edict of king Artaxerxes was read before Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counsellors: and they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and power.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890As soon as the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them cease by force and power.
Context
After the king’s orders (vv. 21–22), verse 23 provides the implementation: immediate, forceful cessation of building in Jerusalem. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the opponents’ strategy and sets up the chapter’s closing summary in verse 24. The narrative will soon return, under Darius, to the resumption of temple work, but here the emphasis is on the halt achieved by legal and physical pressure.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 4:17
Thensent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
- Micah 2:1
Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- Romans 3:15
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
- Proverbs 4:16
For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
- Ezra 4:8
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: