Ezra 4:11 Meaning and Explanation
“This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The text introduces the actual copy of the letter sent to Artaxerxes, opening with its formal greeting.
What Does Ezra 4:11 Mean?
Here the narrator presents the document directly: This is the copy of the letter. The accusers address the king as his servants, the men of the province west of the Euphrates, using the courteous formulas of imperial petition. The reader is brought into the very text that the enemies of Judah laid before the throne, granting the complaint a documentary realism.
There is irony in men who call themselves thy servants to an earthly king while resisting the King of heaven. True service is owed first to God, and what is rendered to rulers must never displace it. The letter drips with deference toward Artaxerxes, yet its purpose is to halt the house of the Most High. Christ taught that no one can serve two masters; these scribes bow low before a man precisely so they may strike at the work of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 4:11
What does Ezra 4:11 mean?
The text introduces the actual copy of the letter sent to Artaxerxes, opening with its formal greeting.