Scripture · Old Testament

Ezra 4:13

Ezra 4:13 is verse 13 of Ezra chapter 4, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.

Read in context

Ezra 4:11–15 · Berean Standard Bible

11 (This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.

13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

14 Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

15 that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

Read all of Ezra 4

Hebrew words

כְּעַ֗ןnow יְדִ֙יעַ֙known לֶהֱוֵ֣אlet it be לְמַלְכָּ֔אto king the דִּ֠יthat הֵ֣ןif קִרְיְתָ֥אcity the דָךְ֙this תִּתְבְּנֵ֔אit will be built וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הand walls the יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןthey will be finished מִנְדָּֽהtribute בְל֤וֹtax וַהֲלָךְ֙and toll לָ֣אnot יִנְתְּנ֔וּןthey will give וְאַפְּתֹ֥םand certainly מַלְכִ֖יםkings תְּהַנְזִֽקit will injure

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Nehemiah 5:4
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

Psalms 52:2
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.

Psalms 119:69
Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

Ezra 7:24
And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.

Matthew 17:25
“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”

Romans 13:6
This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.

Romans 13:7
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

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