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Original Word:אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:eshtadduwr
Pronunciation:esh-tad-DOOR
Phonetic Spelling:(esh-tad-dure')
KJV: sedition
NASB:revolt
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) fromH771 (אָרנָן - Ornan)2 (in a bad sense)]

1. rebellion

sedition

(Aramaic) fromshdar (in a bad sense); rebellion -- sedition.

see HEBREWshdar

Word Origin
(Aramaic) fromshedar
Definition
a revolt
NASB Translation
revolt (2).

; — absoluteEzra 4:15,19.

Meaning and Nuance

The term denotes an intentional, authoritative investigation—an ordered search designed to uncover reliable information from established records. It conveys more than casual curiosity; it is an official and methodical inquiry meant to yield decisive evidence for governmental action.

Occurrences in Scripture

Ezra 4:15 andEzra 4:19 are the only biblical appearances. Both verses fall within the Aramaic correspondence exchanged during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s temple. The city’s opponents urge King Artaxerxes to “search the archives” (Ezra 4:15), and the king replies, “I issued a decree, and a search was made” (Ezra 4:19). In each case the word directs imperial attention to written sources presumed to hold determinative authority over present policy.

Historical Backdrop

After the decree of Cyrus permitted Judean exiles to return, the Persian administration inherited both Babylonian precedent and its own sophisticated archival system. Local officials such as Rehum and Shimshai leveraged that system by appealing to the crown: if Persia’s records showed Jerusalem’s rebellious history, the city’s reconstruction could be halted. Artaxerxes obliged, and the subsequent search confirmed earlier revolts under previous Judean kings, leading to a temporary cessation of building.

Theological Emphasis

1. Divine Providence in Pagan Bureaucracy

The Persian request for documentation demonstrates God’s sovereign rule even through secular processes. While the first search produced a hostile verdict, a later search (Ezra 6:1–3, employing a different verb) uncovered Cyrus’s decree and advanced God’s purpose. The contrast underscores the Lord’s control over the same archives men attempt to manipulate.

2. Truth Verified by Record

Scripture affirms that factual history supports redemptive history. The chronicled past of Israel—both its failures and God’s steadfast covenant—stands open to scrutiny. That transparency invites confidence in the trustworthiness of God’s word (Psalm 119:160).

3. Accountability Before the King

InEzra 4 the search is commanded by a monarch; in final judgment God will conduct His own flawless inquiry (Hebrews 4:13;Revelation 20:12). Earthly records can be incomplete or biased; divine records are perfect and decisive.

Ministry and Pastoral Application

• Responsible Investigation. Believers should emulate Berean diligence (Acts 17:11) by testing claims against reliable sources, chiefly the Scriptures.
• Historical Awareness. Knowledge of church and covenant history guards congregations from error and fosters gratitude for God’s faithfulness.
• Integrity in Administration. Church leaders who manage finances, archives, or policies echo the principle of careful searching, ensuring decisions rest on verifiable facts (2 Corinthians 8:20–21).
• Confidence in God’s Overruling. Even when human investigations appear to hinder the gospel, God can overturn embargoes and reopen doors (Philippians 1:12).

Related Biblical Motifs

Search and discovery recur throughout Scripture—Joseph’s cup in Benjamin’s sack (Genesis 44:12), Achan’s hidden spoils (Joshua 7:18), or the Magi’s diligent search for the Christ (Matthew 2:8). Each instance highlights that nothing concealed remains hidden from divine oversight (Luke 12:2).

Summary

Strong’s Hebrew 849 points to a deliberate, authoritative search of historical records. In Ezra it becomes a tool both for opposition and for eventual confirmation of God’s plan. The word reminds believers that careful inquiry, anchored in reliable testimony, serves God’s larger narrative—a narrative ultimately upheld by the flawless record of His own Word.

וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ ואשתדור veeshtadDur wə’eštaddūr wə·’eš·tad·dūrInterlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts

Ezra 4:15
HEB:מַלְכִין֙ וּמְדִנָ֔ן וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ עָבְדִ֣ין בְּגַוַּ֔הּ
NAS: and that they have incitedrevolt within
KJV: and that they have movedsedition within the same
INT: to kings and provincesrevolt may be made within

Ezra 4:19
HEB:מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑ה וּמְרַ֥ד וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר מִתְעֲבֶד־ בַּֽהּ׃
NAS: that rebellionand revolt have been perpetrated
KJV: and [that] rebellionand sedition have been made
INT: has risen rebellionand revolt have been made

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 849
2 Occurrences

wə·’eš·tad·dūr — 2 Occ.