Ezra 4:16
◄  Ezra 4:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

New Living Translation (©2007)
We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you."

English Standard Version (©2001)
We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"We inform the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls finished, as a result you will have no possession in the province beyond the River."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.

International Standard Version (©2012)
We certify to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will lose your land holdings in the province beyond the Euphrates River.

NET Bible (©2006)
We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control of this portion of Trans-Euphrates."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
We want the king to know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will have nothing left [of your province] west of the Euphrates River.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
We inform the king that, if this city is built again, and its walls finished, by this means you shall have no dominion on this side of the river.

American King James Version
We certify the king that, if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means you shall have no portion on this side the river.

American Standard Version
We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou shalt have no portion beyond the River.

Douay-Rheims Bible
We certify the king, that if this city be built, and the walls thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession on this side of the river.

Darby Bible Translation
We inform the king that if this city be built and its walls be completed, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

English Revised Version
We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou shalt have no portion beyond the river.

Webster's Bible Translation
We certify the king that, if this city shall be built again, and its walls set up, by this means thou wilt have no portion on this side of the river.

World English Bible
We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.

Young's Literal Translation
We are making known to the king that, if this city be builded and the walls finished, by this means a portion beyond the river thou hast none.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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 should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them, which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he sees things as they are.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. It is not quite clear whether the river intended here and in ver. 10 is the Euphrates or the Jordan. Generally in the Old Testament hannahar means the Euphrates, but the exaggeration is gross if that river was intended here. Only twice in their history had the Israelites advanced their frontier as far as that stream - under Solomon (1 Kings 4:21) and under Menahem (2 Kings 15:16); in their present depressed condition it was absurd to imagine that they could rival those early glories. But jealousy does not stop to weigh the reasonableness of its accusations.

CHAPTER 4:17-24.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up,.... As it formerly was, and now attempted, as they suggest:

by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river; the river Euphrates; intimating that the Jews would not only shake off his yoke, and refuse to pay tribute themselves, but would seize on all his dominions on that side the river, and annex them to their own.

Ezra 4:16 Parallel Commentaries

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Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
…14Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so shall you find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16We certify the king that, if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means you shall have no portion on this side the river.

Ezra 4:15 so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.
Ezra 4:17 The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings.