Ezra 4:16 Meaning and Explanation
“We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The letter concludes with the alarming claim that a rebuilt Jerusalem will cost the king his entire hold on the western province.
What Does Ezra 4:16 Mean?
The accusation reaches its climax with a sweeping warning. The writers certify, that is, solemnly assure, the king that if Jerusalem is rebuilt with its walls, he will lose all portion in the territory west of the Euphrates. From a single building project they conjure the loss of an entire province. The exaggeration is deliberate, designed to make refusal seem the only safe choice.
Fear inflated beyond all proportion is a favorite tool of those who oppose the work of God. A modest temple becomes, in the telling, the seed of imperial collapse. Such overstatement reveals how threatened the enemy feels by even small acts of faithfulness. Yet the people of God need not be ruled by the exaggerated fears that others press upon kings and crowds. The Lord measures things truly, and His purposes are not undone by alarm dressed up as wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 4:16
What does Ezra 4:16 mean?
The letter concludes with the alarming claim that a rebuilt Jerusalem will cost the king his entire hold on the western province.