Ezra 4:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king orders the work stopped and the city left unbuilt, until he himself should decree otherwise.
What Does Ezra 4:21 Mean?
The king issues his verdict: the builders are to be made to cease, and the city is not to be rebuilt, until another commandment shall be given from me. The order is firm yet not final; the king leaves a door open by reserving the right to reverse himself later. The accusers have won their immediate aim, and the work is to be halted by royal decree.
Hidden in the king's own words is a seed of hope: until another commandment. The stoppage is declared temporary even by the one who commands it, and that small clause foreshadows the day when a later decree would set the work moving again. The purposes of God are often delayed but never canceled. What rulers bind for a season, the Lord can loose in His time, and no human commandment can be the last word over a work He has appointed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 4:21
What does Ezra 4:21 mean?
The king orders the work stopped and the city left unbuilt, until he himself should decree otherwise.