“Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,
- KJV Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
- BSB 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
- NKJV Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,
- NASB Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s shame, for this reason we have sent word and informed the king,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The accusers claimed loyalty to the king as their reason for reporting the supposed threat. They posed as faithful servants protecting the crown.
Overview
"Eating the salt of the palace" expressed an obligation of loyalty to the king who supported them. Their professed concern for the king's honor cloaked their hostility toward the Jews. The verse exposes how self-interest can masquerade as dutiful service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Ezek 33:31They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
- John 12:5–6“Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?”
- John 19:12–15At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The return from exile and the rebuilt altar keep alive the hope of a greater restoration — the true return from our deeper exile of sin accomplished by Christ.
How Ezra 4:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.