Ezra 4:14

Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Persian officials address the king to explain their urgent petition regarding the city's reconstruction. They speak at a moment when royal administrators fear the loss of tribute and the restoration of a historically rebellious settlement.

The words — מְלַחְנָא (me.Lach.na') literally means "we eat salt," an administrative idiom denoting permanent palace service. כְּעַן (ke.'An) translates as "now," establishing the immediate timeline of their warning.

The thread — The concern over lost royal revenue appears in Ezra 4:13, while the call to verify past rebellions continues in Ezra 4:15. The tension between political loyalty and religious authority resurfaces in John 19:12 and the hollow worship condemned in Ezekiel 33:31.

Why it lands — The text states that officials intervene to protect royal revenue and prevent the king's dishonor. Readers must note how appeals to state loyalty function as practical mechanisms to halt religious rebuilding.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כְּעַ֗ןke.'Annowכָּל־ko/l-as/ toקֳבֵל֙ko.Velbecause דִּֽי־di-that מְלַ֤חme.Lach[the] salt of הֵֽיכְלָא֙hei.khe.La/'palace/ the מְלַ֔חְנָאme.Lach.na'we eat salt וְעַרְוַ֣תve./'ar.Vatand/ [the] dishonor of מַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka/'king/ the לָ֥אla'not אֲֽרִֽיךְ'arikh[is] properלַ֖נָאLa./na'for/ usלְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑אle./me.che.Ze'to/ see עַ֨ל־'Al-concerning דְּנָ֔הde.Nahthis שְׁלַ֖חְנָאshe.Lach.na'we have sent וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָאve./ho.Da'.na'and/ we have made known לְמַלְכָּֽא׃le./mal.Ka/'to/ king/ the

King James Version

Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

Cross-references

Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
John 12:5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
John 19:12 From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”