Bible Strands

Ezra 4:19

I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Persian king addresses his officials after a translated letter is read in his presence, documenting an administrative inquiry into Jerusalem's political history. He records the findings at the moment of official correspondence regarding the city's past conduct.

The words — טְעֵם (te'Em) means "a decree," and שׂים (sim) means "it was made," forming the phrase "a decree was made." וּבַקְּרוּ (u./va.Ka.ru) translates literally as "and they searched," describing the official investigation.

The thread — The administrative search and investigation of past conduct parallel the investigative commands in Deuteronomy 13:14 and the principle that kings search out matters in Proverbs 25:2. The record of the city's past rebellion against earlier rulers aligns with the historical pattern of political insurrection noted in 2 Kings 18:7.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that historical records of sedition directly inform present political decisions. It requires readers to see how documented past actions justify current administrative restrictions without offering moral commentary.

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

וּמִנִּי֮u./mi.N/iand/ from/ meשִׂ֣יםsimit was madeטְעֵם֒te.'Ema decreeוּבַקַּ֣רוּu./va.Ka.ruand/ they searchedוְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּve./hash.Ka.chuand/ they foundדִּ֚יdithatקִרְיְתָ֣אkir.ye.Ta/'city/ theדָ֔ךְDakhthisמִן־min-fromיוֹמָת֙yo.Mat[the] days ofעָֽלְמָ֔א'al.Ma/'<the>/ antiquityעַל־'al-againstמַלְכִ֖יןmal.Khinkingsמִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑הmit.na.se.'Ah[was] rising upוּמְרַ֥דu./me.Radand/ rebellionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּרve./'esh.ta.Durand/ revoltמִתְעֲבֶד־mit.'a.ved-[have] been doneבַּֽהּ׃Ba/hby/ it

King James Version

And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

Cross-references