Ezra 4:7

And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — During the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their associates sent a written letter to that same king.

The words — אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא ('ar.tach.Shas.ta') = Artaxerxes, and כָּתַב (ka.Tav) = he wrote.

The thread — The use of Aramaic for official correspondence appears in Ezra 4:8 and Daniel 2:4, while the pattern of regional officials petitioning Persian authorities continues in Ezra 4:9.

Why it lands — The text records how written petitions were deployed to halt temple rebuilding, requiring readers to trace how political documents directly interrupt divine restoration projects.

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

וּבִימֵ֣יu./vi./Meiand/ in/ [the] days of אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא'ar.tach.Shas.ta'Artaxerxes כָּתַ֨בka.Tavhe wrote בִּשְׁלָ֜םbish.LamBishlam מִתְרְדָ֤תmit.re.DatMithredath טָֽבְאֵל֙ta.ve.'ElTabeel וּשְׁאָ֣רu./she.'Arand/ [the] rest of כְּנָוֹתָ֔יוke.na.vo.to/vcolleagues/ his עַל־'al-to אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.taArtaxerxes מֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekh[the] king of פָּרָ֑סpa.RasPersia וּכְתָב֙u./khe.Tavand/ [the] writing of הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ןha./nish.te.Vanthe/ letter כָּת֥וּבka.Tuv[was] written אֲרָמִ֖ית'a.ra.MitAramaic וּמְתֻרְגָּ֥םu./me.tur.Gamand/ [was] translated אֲרָמִֽית׃ פ'a.ra.MitAramaic

King James Version

And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

Cross-references

2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
Daniel 2:4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
Ezra 4:9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
Ezra 4:17 Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
Isaiah 36:11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
Ezra 5:6 This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius.

People named

ArtaxerxesBishlamMithredathTabeel