King James Version

What Does Ezra 4:21 Mean?

Ezra 4:21 in the King James Version says “Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall ...” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Give: Chaldee, Make a decree”

Ezra 4:21 · KJV

Context

19

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. I commanded: Chald. by me a decree is set made insurrection: Chald. lifted up itself

20

There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

21

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Give: Chaldee, Make a decree

22

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23

Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. by force: Chaldee, by arm and power

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Artaxerxes orders immediate cessation of Jerusalem's reconstruction. The imperative 'Give ye now commandment' delegates authority to Rehum and company to enforce the decree locally. The phrase 'cause these men to cease' (battelu gulbraya) means 'make the men stop,' authorizing forceful intervention if necessary. This transformed opponents from accusers into authorized enforcers with royal backing.

The qualification 'until another commandment shall be given from me' technically leaves the door open for future reversal, showing royal wisdom. Artaxerxes stopped the work without permanently prohibiting it or revoking Cyrus's original decree. This moderation suggests the king maintained some skepticism about opponents' accusations while still responding to their concerns. The conditional nature protected imperial prerogative for future policy changes.

Theologically, this temporary setback demonstrates that God's purposes aren't thwarted by human opposition. The work stopped for a time, but God would later move Artaxerxes himself to authorize both Ezra's mission (458 BC) and Nehemiah's wall-building (445 BC). What seemed like defeat proved temporary, teaching that apparent failures in God's work may be providential redirections rather than ultimate defeats.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This decree, issued around 464-458 BC, halted temple work that had already been completed (515 BC) but apparently targeted wall construction or repairs. The chronology of Ezra 4 is complex, summarizing various opposition instances across different reigns. This particular episode likely occurred between the temple completion under Darius and Ezra's arrival under Artaxerxes.

The phrase 'until another commandment' proved prophetic. The same Artaxerxes who issued this prohibition later authorized Ezra's religious reforms (Ezra 7) and Nehemiah's wall reconstruction (Nehemiah 2). This dramatic reversal demonstrates both royal prerogative to change policy and God's sovereignty over royal hearts. What one commandment prohibited, another permitted—divine providence worked through the same imperial authority.

The cessation order's temporary nature reflects Persian administrative pragmatism. Rather than making irreversible decisions based on one-sided information, Artaxerxes preserved flexibility. This administrative wisdom, whether intentional or providential, prevented permanent damage to God's purposes while addressing immediate provincial concerns.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do temporary setbacks in God's work test faith and reveal whether we trust divine sovereignty or merely favorable circumstances?
  2. What does the conditional nature of this decree teach about maintaining hope even when facing authoritative opposition?
  3. How should believers respond to 'closed doors' in ministry—as final answers or temporary delays requiring patient faithfulness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
כְּעַן֙1 of 14

“ye now”

H3705

now

יִתְּשָֽׂם׃2 of 14

“Give”

H7761

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

טְּעֵ֔ם3 of 14

“commandment”

H2942

properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)

לְבַטָּלָ֖א4 of 14

“to cause”

H989

to stop

גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א5 of 14

“men”

H1400

a person

אִלֵּ֑ךְ6 of 14

“these”

H479

these

וְקִרְיְתָ֥א7 of 14

“city”

H7149

building; a city

דָךְ֙8 of 14

“and that this”

H1791

this

לָ֣א9 of 14

“be not”

H3809

no, not

תִתְבְּנֵ֔א10 of 14

“builded”

H1124

to build

עַד11 of 14

“until”

H5705

until

מִנִּ֖י12 of 14

“from me”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

טַעְמָ֥א13 of 14

“another commandment”

H2941

properly, a taste, i.e., a judicial sentence

יִתְּשָֽׂם׃14 of 14

“Give”

H7761

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezra. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezra 4:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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