Ezra 4:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius, king of Persia.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְסֹכְרִ֧ים עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹעֲצִ֖ים לְהָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑ם כָּל־יְמֵ֗י כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס וְעַד־מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃

Transliteration

And wᵉsōkᵉrîm against them yôʿăṣîm to lᵉhāpēr their ʿăṣātām all yᵉmê kôreš melek pāras and until malkût dārᵉyāweš melek-pārās.

Grammar Details

• *wᵉsōkᵉrîm*: waw-conjunction + qal participle, masculine plural - and hiring
• *yôʿăṣîm*: noun, masculine plural - counselors/advisers
• *lᵉhāpēr*: preposition + hiphil infinitive construct - to frustrate/annul
• *ʿăṣātām*: noun, feminine singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix - their plan/counsel
• *yᵉmê*: construct noun, masculine plural - days of
• *kôreš*: proper noun - Cyrus
• *melek*: noun, masculine singular construct - king of
• *pāras*: proper noun - Persia
• *malkût*: noun, feminine singular construct - kingdom of/reign of
• *dārᵉyāweš*: proper noun - Darius
• *pārās*: proper noun - Persia

Word Meanings

• *wᵉsōkᵉrîm*: hiring/bribing
• *yôʿăṣîm*: counselors/advisers
• *lᵉhāpēr*: to frustrate/to annul/to break/to make ineffective
• *ʿăṣātām*: their plan/their purpose/their counsel

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and hired{H7936} counsellors{H3289} against them, to frustrate{H6565} their purpose,{H6098} all the days{H3117} of Cyrus{H3566} king{H4428} of Persia,{H6539} even until the reign{H4438} of Darius{H1867} king{H4428} of Persia.{H6539}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And hired{H7936}{(H8802)} counsellors{H3289}{(H8802)} against them, to frustrate{H6565}{(H8687)} their purpose{H6098}, all the days{H3117} of Cyrus{H3566} king{H4428} of Persia{H6539}, even until the reign{H4438} of Darius{H1867} king{H4428} of Persia{H6539}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and hyred councelers aganst them and hyndered their deuyce, as longe as Cyrus the kynge of Persia lyued, vntyll the reigne off Darius kynge off Persia.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And they hired counsellers against them, to hinder their deuise, all the dayes of Cyrus King of Persia, euen vntill the reigne of Darius King of Persia.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And hyred counsellers against them, to hinder their deuice as long as Cyrus the king of Persia liued, vntil the raigne of Darius king of Persia.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and are hiring against them counsellors to make void their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even till the reign of Darius king of Persia.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And they gave payment to men who made designs against them and kept them from effecting their purpose, all through the time of Cyrus, king of Persia, till Darius became king.

• World English Bible (2000)

  and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  They were hiring advisers to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Referenced Verses

• Ezra 4:24 : 24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a halt, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.
• Ezra 5:5-6:18 : 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could be sent to Darius, and they received his response regarding this matter. 6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions, the officials of the region beyond the River, sent to King Darius. 7 They sent a report to him, written as follows: 'To King Darius, all peace.' 8 'Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being rebuilt with large stones and timber is being placed in the walls. The work is being done diligently and is progressing well in their hands.' 9 'Then we asked those elders, and we said to them, "Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and complete this structure?"' 10 'We also asked them for their names in order to inform you, so we could record the names of the men who are leading this work.' 11 'This was their reply to us: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago. It was a great king of Israel who built and completed it."' 12 'But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, He gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.' 13 'However, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this temple of God.' 14 And even the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon, these King Cyrus took out of the temple in Babylon and handed over to Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed as governor. 15 And he said to him, 'Take these vessels and go; deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.' 16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. And from that time until now, it has been under construction and is not yet completed. 17 And now, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal archives in Babylon to determine if a decree was indeed issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision concerning this matter. 1 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives where treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 And a scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written in it as a record: 3 In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree: The house of God in Jerusalem is to be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered, with its foundations firmly laid. Its height is to be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits. 4 It will have three layers of large stone and one layer of new timber. The cost will be paid from the royal treasury. 5 Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon must be returned and brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its rightful place, and deposited into the house of God. 6 Now then, Tattenai, governor of the region Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your colleagues, the officials in the province Beyond the River, keep away from there. 7 Leave the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site. 8 Moreover, I issue a decree as to what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of this house of God: The expenses are to be fully paid to these men from the royal treasury from the tributes of the region Beyond the River, so that the work is not hindered. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, or lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests in Jerusalem—must be provided to them daily without fail. 10 So that they may offer pleasing offerings to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 I also issue a decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam shall be pulled out from his house. He shall be impaled upon it, and his house shall be made into a refuse heap for this violation. 12 May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempt to alter or destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be done diligently. 13 Then Tattenai, governor of the region Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues carried out the decree of King Darius with all diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued building and succeeded through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15 This temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 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. 17 They offered for the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 Then they appointed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.
• Ps 2:1-2 : 1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.
• Nah 1:11 : 11 From you, Nineveh, has come one who plots evil against the Lord and devises wicked plans.
• Acts 24:1-9 : 1 After five days, the high priest Ananias went down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, 'Because of you, we have enjoyed much peace and reforms have been carried out for this nation through your foresight.' 3 In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But so as not to take more of your time, I beg you to listen to us briefly in your kindness. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias, the commander, came and intervened with great force, taking him out of our hands. 8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all the charges we are bringing against him. 9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. 10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, 'Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I make my defense cheerfully.' 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues, or anywhere in the city. 13 Nor can they prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in the Law and written in the Prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God as they do, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 In this, I strive to always keep my conscience clear before God and people. 17 After several years, I came to bring gifts to my nation and offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without a crowd or any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from Asia who ought to be here before you to bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin. 21 Unless it was for this one statement I made while standing among them: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged before you today.' 22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the proceedings and said, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.' 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and not to prevent his friends from attending to his needs. 24 After some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discussed righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and said, 'That is enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.' 26 At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him money, so he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 After two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Because he wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.