Ezra 4:3

Authorized King James Version

PDF

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.

Original Language Analysis

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

Analysis & Commentary

The refusal: '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.' This firm rejection risked creating enemies of potential allies. The phrase 'Ye have nothing to do with us' asserted incompatibility. The reason: 'we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.' They appealed to divine authorization through Cyrus's decree, not mere ethnic exclusivity.

Historical Context

The refusal to include Samaritans in temple building was controversial then and now. However, allowing syncretistic worship would have violated covenant distinctiveness God demanded. The appeal to Cyrus's authorization provided legal justification—he decreed that Jews, not Samaritans, build the temple. This firm stance created lasting Samaritan-Jewish hostility (continuing into New Testament, John 4:9). However, covenant purity required it. Theological boundaries sometimes demand social consequences.

Questions for Reflection