1 esdras 4:13 - Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 4:13

What does "1 esdras 4:13" mean?


This verse from 1 Esdras 4:13 introduces the third speaker in a debate held before King Darius of Persia. Let's break it down:

"Then the third...": This clearly identifies Zorobabel as the third person to participate in the speaking contest.

"...who had spoken of women, and of truth...": This is a crucial piece of information. It means that Zorobabel, in his speech, had previously discussed the topics of women and truth. The context later reveals the question Darius posed was to determine what is the strongest thing: wine, the king, women, or truth. The preceding speakers, the first spoke of the strength of wine, and the second of the strength of the king.

"(this was Zorobabel)": This parenthetical statement simply confirms the identity of the third speaker as Zorobabel. It's a common technique in ancient texts to clarify or reinforce who a character is.

"...began to speak.": This indicates the start of Zorobabel's formal presentation on the topic of women, and then, more importantly, truth.

In Summary:

The verse tells us that Zorobabel is the third speaker in a debate before King Darius. It reminds us that he will touch upon the subjects of women and truth in his speech. This sets the stage for what Zorobabel will argue and reveals the central themes of his presentation, which will ultimately lead him to win the debate. It's important because Zorobabel's argument about the power of truth (specifically, the power of God's truth) is what convinces King Darius to fulfill his vow to rebuild Jerusalem.

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