Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

EZRA 6:11KJV
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Ezra 6:11 (KJV)

What does Ezra 6:11 mean?

Ezra 6:11 records King Darius’s warning that anyone who changes his decree will face a severe penalty. The king presents his order concerning the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple as something his officials must respect, not obstruct.

Darius orders that a timber be taken from the offender’s own house and set upright for the person to be hanged on it. The same house is then to be made a “dunghill,” a place associated with waste and disgrace.

The Aramaic behind Ezra 6:11

  • “alter” — שְׁנָא (shenā): This means to change or alter. In the decree, the word points to changing the king’s stated order.
  • “word” — פִּתְגָם (pitgām): This can mean a word, message, or official command. Here, “this word” refers to the decree Darius has issued.
  • “dunghill” — נְוָלוּ (nevālû): This refers to a place of filth or refuse. The penalty reaches beyond the person to the home, leaving a visible mark of disgrace.

Why Ezra 6:11 matters

  • The warning gives the rebuilding order the force of a royal command. Ezra 6:8 directs officials to help with the work, and verse 11 attaches a penalty to changing the decree.
  • The king’s order reaches people who might interfere with it. The phrase “whosoever shall alter this word” states the penalty broadly rather than naming one offender.
  • The house itself becomes part of the punishment. The timber comes “from his house,” and the house is then made a dunghill.

Where else these words appear

“dunghill” Hebrew H5122 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
  • Daniel 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

“hanged” Hebrew H4223 · used in 4 verses

  • Daniel 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
  • Daniel 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
  • Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

“timber” Hebrew H636 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezra 5:8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
  • Ezra 6:4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
  • Daniel 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

“word” Hebrew H6600 · used in 6 verses

  • Ezra 4:17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
  • Ezra 5:7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
  • Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.