אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר (esh.tad.dur)
esh.tad.dur
sedition
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun eshtaddur refers to a state of open revolt or sedition. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within the book of Ezra (4:12 and 4:15). In these contexts, it describes the political unrest reported by officials in Trans-Euphrates regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.
The term carries a strong legal and administrative weight. It is not used for minor disobedience but for acts that challenge established authority or threaten public order. The sources identify it specifically as "sedition," highlighting its nature as an organized resistance against imperial rule rather than simple personal rebellion.
Its limited usage underscores the specific historical tension of the period. By labeling the Jewish activities as eshtaddur, the accusers sought to frame religious restoration as a criminal act of treason. This lexical choice reveals how political language was deployed to halt construction efforts under Persian law.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eshtaddur describes a serious act of sedition or organized revolt against established authority. In the historical context of Ezra, this term was used by officials to label the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls as a criminal threat to the Persian Empire. It highlights how political language can be wielded to suppress religious restoration and disrupt community stability.
For your faith today, this word serves as a reminder that standing for God’s purposes can sometimes invite opposition or misunderstanding from those in power. The early church faced similar tensions when believers prioritized obedience to God over civil mandates. This reality invites us to remain steadfast in our convictions while trusting that God oversees the outcomes of such conflicts.
When you encounter resistance because of your faith, remember that your loyalty belongs to Christ alone. Your witness may challenge worldly systems, but it also testifies to a higher kingdom. May you find peace in knowing that God is sovereign over every authority and that He uses even opposition to fulfill His redemptive plans.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ revolt1×
- and/ a revolt1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙1×
- וְ/אֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:15
that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
This verse shows the accusers using the concept of sedition to frame the Jewish rebuilding efforts as a historical pattern of treason against kings.
-
Ezra 4:19
I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
Here the official confirms that the city has a recorded history of insurrection, using this past rebellion to justify halting current construction.