Ezra 4:6
What does Ezra 4:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 4:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 4:6 means
During Ahasuerus’s reign, the opponents escalate to formal accusations against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. The wording points to an official complaint lodged early in his rule, aiming to sway imperial policy. The strategy is clear: if local pressure cannot stop the work, imperial prohibition might. The adversaries cast the returned community in a negative light, hoping the king will view them as threats to order and revenue. This shows how slander and legal challenges often accompany spiritual endeavors, especially when rebuilding signals the recovery of a distinct identity under Jehovah’s rule.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And in the time of Ahasuerus, when he first became king, they put on record a statement against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the commencement of his reign, they have written an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And in the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Context
Verse 6 marks a chronological jump, illustrating the pattern of opposition across successive kings. From Cyrus to Darius (v. 5), the text now mentions Ahasuerus, showing that the adversarial campaign endured and adapted. This sets the precedent for the more detailed letter in Artaxerxes’s time in verses 7–23. Understanding this telescoping helps readers see verses 6–23 as a broad survey of opposition episodes, culminating in a royal halt, before verse 24 returns to the earlier timeline under Darius.
v.5and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
v.6This passage
v.7And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 9:1
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,
- Acts 24:13
Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me.
- Esther 1:1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),
- Acts 24:5
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
- Acts 25:7
And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;
- Matthew 27:37
And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.