Ezra 4:5

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• 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 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased 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, so that they could not make them stop until the matter was reported to Darius: and then they returned an answer by letter concerning this matter. 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king: 7 They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones, and timber is being laid in the walls, and this work is going on rapidly and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders and said to them, Who commanded you to build this house and to finish these walls? 10 We also asked their names to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were the leaders among them. 11 And they returned an answer to us, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up. 12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And also the vessels of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those king Cyrus took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he made governor; 15 And he said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place. 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and from that time even until now it has been in building, and yet it is not completed. 17 Now therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was made by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his decision to us concerning this matter. 1 Then King Darius made a decree, and a search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 And a scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, with this record written in it: 3 In the first year of King Cyrus, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given from the king's treasury: 5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, keep far from there: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8 Moreover I make a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that from the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, expenses be given to these men, so that they are not hindered. 9 And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house and set up, let him be hanged upon it, and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And may the God who has caused His name to dwell there destroy all kings and people who attempt to alter or destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree; let it be done swiftly. 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, acted according to what King Darius had sent, and they did so speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 16 And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
• Ps 2:1-2 : 1 Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
• Nah 1:11 : 11 There is one come out from you, who imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor.
• Acts 24:1-9 : 1 And after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and many worthy deeds are done for this nation by your providence, 3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 However, that I may not be further tedious to you, I beg you to hear us briefly in your kindness. 5 For we have found this man to be a pestilent fellow, and a creator of discord among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 Who also attempted to desecrate the temple: whom we seized, and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great force took him away out of our hands, 8 Commanding his accusers to come before you: by examining of whom you yourself may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him. 9 And the Jews also agreed, saying that these things were true. 10 Then Paul, after the governor had motioned to him to speak, answered, Since I know that you have been for many years a judge to this nation, I do cheerfully respond for myself: 11 Because you may understand that there are only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, nor stirring up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And here I exercise myself, to have always a conscience without offense toward God, and toward men. 17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18 In the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a crowd, nor with tumult. 19 Who ought to have been present before you, to charge me, if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here say, if they found any wrongdoing in me, while I stood before the council, 21 Except it be for this one statement, that I cried standing among them, Regarding the resurrection of the dead I am questioned by you this day. 22 And when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of that Way, he postponed them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will decide your case. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have freedom, and that he should permit none of his friends to minister or come to him. 24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go away for now; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you. 26 He also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him: therefore, he sent for him more often, and conversed with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to grant a favor to the Jews, left Paul bound.