Ezra 4:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ צָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־בְנֵ֤י הַגּוֹלָה֙ בּוֹנִ֣ים הֵיכָ֔ל לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Transliteration

And wayyišmᵉʿû ṣārê yᵉhûdāh and binyāmin that bᵉnê the haggôlāh bônim hêkāl to YHWH ʾĕlōhê yiśrāʾēl

Grammar Details

• *wayyišmᵉʿû*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd plural - and they heard
• *ṣārê*: construct noun, masculine plural - adversaries of/enemies of
• *yᵉhûdāh*: proper noun - Judah
• *binyāmin*: proper noun - Benjamin
• *bᵉnê*: construct noun, masculine plural - sons of/children of
• *haggôlāh*: definite noun, feminine singular - the exile
• *bônim*: qal participle, masculine plural - building/were building
• *hêkāl*: noun, masculine singular - temple/palace
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the divine name
• *ʾĕlōhê*: construct noun, masculine plural - God of
• *yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel

Word Meanings

• *ṣārê*: adversaries/enemies/foes
• *haggôlāh*: the exile/captivity/deportation
• *bônim*: building/constructing
• *hêkāl*: temple/palace/sanctuary

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to the LORD God of Israel,

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But whan the aduersaries of Iuda and Ben Iamin herde, that the children of the captiuyte buylded the teple vnto the LORDE God of Israel,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Bvt the aduersaries of Iudah and Beniamin heard, that the children of the captiuitie builded the Temple vnto the Lord God of Israel.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But the aduersaries of Iuda and Beniamin, heard that the children of the captiuitie builded the temple vnto the Lorde God of Israel:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And adversaries of Judah and Benjamin hear that the sons of the captivity are building a temple to Jehovah, God of Israel,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now news came to the haters of Judah and Benjamin that the people who had come back were building a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel;

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Opposition to the Building Efforts When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles were building a temple for the LORD God of Israel,

Referenced Verses

• Ezra 1:11 : 11 The total number of gold and silver articles was five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up when the exiles were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
• Ezra 4:7-9 : 7 And during the reign of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated. 8 Rehum, the commander, and Shimshai, the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows: 9 Then Rehum, the commander, Shimshai, the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials, the Tarpelites, the Apharsathchites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the region beyond the River—now,
• Ezra 6:16 : 16 The people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
• Ezra 6:19-20 : 19 The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves together, and all of them were ceremonially clean. They slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
• Ezra 7:9 : 9 On the first day of the first month, the journey from Babylon began, and on the first day of the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.
• Ezra 10:7 : 7 A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem.
• Ezra 10:16 : 16 So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of families, each identified by name, to investigate the matter; they convened on the first day of the tenth month to begin their investigation.
• Neh 4:1-9 : 1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 2 They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause confusion. 3 So we prayed to our God and set a guard against them day and night because of their threats. 4 Then Judah said, 'The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubble that we are unable to rebuild the wall.' 5 Our enemies said, 'They won’t know or see a thing until we come among them, kill them, and stop the work.' 6 So it happened that the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times, 'Wherever you turn, they will attack us!' 7 So I stationed people in the lowest parts behind the wall, in the open areas, and I positioned them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 8 Then I saw what was happening; I stood and addressed the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.' 9 When our enemies realized that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated their plans, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. 10 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders stood behind all the people of Judah. 11 Those who were building the wall and those who carried loads were doing their work with one hand while holding a weapon with the other.
• Dan 5:13 : 13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, 'Are you Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?'
• Dan 9:25 : 25 Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the Prince, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a moat, but in difficult times.
• 1 Cor 16:9 : 9 For a great and effective door has been opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
• 1 Kgs 5:4-5 : 4 He ruled over all the region west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and over all the kings in that region. He had peace on all sides around him. 5 Judah and Israel lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
• 1 Chr 22:9-9 : 9 Behold, a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies around him. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. 10 He will build a house for my name, and he will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.