Ezra 4:3

Authorized King James Version

But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּאמֶר֩
H559
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
לָהֶ֨ם
H0
#3
זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל
H2216
But Zerubbabel
zerubbabel, an israelite
#4
וְיֵשׁ֗וּעַ
H3442
and Jeshua
jeshua, the name of ten israelites, also of a place in palestine
#5
וּשְׁאָ֨ר
H7605
and the rest
a remainder
#6
רָאשֵׁ֤י
H7218
of the chief
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
#7
הָֽאָבוֹת֙
H1
of the fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#8
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
H3478
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#9
לֹֽא
H3808
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#10
לָ֣כֶם
H0
#11
וָלָ֔נוּ
H0
#12
נִבְנֶ֗ה
H1129
unto them Ye have nothing to do with us to build
to build (literally and figuratively)
#13
בַּ֖יִת
H1004
an house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#14
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
H430
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#15
כִּי֩
H3588
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#16
אֲנַ֨חְנוּ
H587
we
#17
יַ֜חַד
H3162
but we ourselves together
properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly
#18
נִבְנֶ֗ה
H1129
unto them Ye have nothing to do with us to build
to build (literally and figuratively)
#19
לַֽיהוָה֙
H3068
unto the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#20
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
H430
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#21
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
H3478
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#22
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#23
צִוָּ֔נוּ
H6680
hath commanded
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
#24
מֶֽלֶךְ
H4428
as king
a king
#25
כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ
H3566
Cyrus
koresh (or cyrus), the persian king
#26
מֶֽלֶךְ
H4428
as king
a king
#27
פָּרָֽס׃
H6539
of Persia
paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection