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.

EZRA 4:21KJV
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Ezra 4:21 (KJV)

What does Ezra 4:21 mean?

Ezra 4:21 records a Persian king’s order to stop work on Jerusalem. The officials receiving the order are to make the men cease building and keep the city from being rebuilt until the king issues another command.

King Artaxerxes is answering officials who had written to him about the work at Jerusalem. His order gives those officials authority to intervene. The phrase “until another commandment” leaves the decision about any change in the king’s hands.

The Aramaic behind Ezra 4:21

  • “cause … to cease” — בְּטֵל (beṭel): The Aramaic word carries the sense of stopping or bringing work to a halt. It points to an enforced stoppage, rather than a pause chosen by the builders.
  • “commandment” — טְעֵם (ṭeʿem): The word can refer to an official order or decree. Here it describes the authority by which the king’s instructions are to be carried out.

Why Ezra 4:21 matters

  • The king’s stated concern is the city of Jerusalem. He says “that this city be not builded,” which helps explain the scope of the order addressed to his officials.
  • The order has a condition attached, rather than a fixed end date. The words “until another commandment shall be given from me” make a further royal decision the condition for changing it.
  • The officials treated the order as permission to act by force. In verse 23, they go to Jerusalem and make the builders cease “by force and power.”

Where else these words appear

“cause” Hebrew H989 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezra 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
  • Ezra 4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
  • Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

“commandment” Hebrew H2941 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
  • Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
  • Ezra 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

“city” Hebrew H7149 · used in 7 verses

  • Ezra 4:10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
  • Ezra 4:13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
  • Ezra 4:16 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.

“this” Hebrew H1791 · used in 11 verses

  • Ezra 4:13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
  • Ezra 4:19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
  • Ezra 5:17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.