Ezra 4:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The letter charges that the returned Jews are rebuilding rebellious Jerusalem, raising its walls and repairing its foundations.
What Does Ezra 4:12 Mean?
The accusation now states its case. It reports that the Jews who came up from Babylon are at Jerusalem building the rebellious and the bad city, restoring its walls and joining its foundations. By branding the city itself as rebellious and bad, the writers color the whole project with disloyalty before naming a single specific offense. The charge is built on reputation, not deed.
Slander often works by attaching an evil name to a good work. Jerusalem, the city of David and of the temple, is recast as a hotbed of revolt. So it has often been: the faithful are described in the worst possible terms by those who oppose them. Jesus warned His followers that men would say all manner of evil against them falsely. The builders here are doing exactly what God and Cyrus authorized, yet to their enemies obedience is dressed up as rebellion.
Ezra 4:12 in the Original Language
marad (מְרַד), 'rebellious' -- given to revolt, defiant against rightful authority; the slander turns a sacred city into a supposed rebel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 4:12
What does Ezra 4:12 mean?
The letter charges that the returned Jews are rebuilding rebellious Jerusalem, raising its walls and repairing its foundations.