Ezra 4:4

Translations

Modern

Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

Traditional

Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

Literal

And it came to pass, the people of the land tried to make feeble the hands of the people of Judah, and they troubled them in building

Latin

Factum est igitur ut populus terræ impediret manus populi Judæ, et turbaret eos in ædificando.

Original

Hebrew

English

Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

Notes

Ezra 4:4

Realizing they could not influence the established Jewish community (Ezra 4:1–3), the foreigners took hostile actions to weaken the Israelites' growing political power.

Ezra 3:1–4:5

After resettling in various towns in Judah, the community focused on restoring the worship of God in Jerusalem. They quickly rebuilt the altar and began regular sacrifices in time to celebrate the Jewish festivals (Ezra 3:4). Then, they started the more challenging task of rebuilding the temple itself (Ezra 3:8). Soon, they faced opposition from local foreigners (Ezra 4:1–5).

Theme notes and profiles

Cyrus II Samaritans Zerubbabel Purity and Identity

Related verses

Ezra 3:3
They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land.
Jeremiah 38:4
Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”
Nehemiah 4:11
And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
Nehemiah 6:9
For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
Isaiah 35:3–4
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Nehemiah 4:7–8
When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Glossary

Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Darius First Book of Esdras People of the Land Postexilic Period Temple

Topics

Joshua: Also Called Jeshua: Assists Zerubbabel in Restoring the Temple Lobbying: General Scriptures Concerning the Second Temple: The Samaritans: Weakened the Hands of the Jews in Building

Ezra 4:4

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