Original Word: שִׂטְנָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: sitnah
Pronunciation: sit-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (sit-naw')
KJV: accusation
NASB: accusation
Word Origin: [from H7853 (שָׂטַן - accusers)]

1. opposition (by letter)

accusation

From satan; opposition (by letter) -- accusation.

see HEBREW satan

Word Origin
from the same as satan
Definition
accusation
NASB Translation
accusation (1).

I. שִׂטְנָה noun feminine accusation; — Ezra 4:6.

Definition and Scope

שִׂטְנָה (sitnah) denotes a hostile accusation or formal charge intended to obstruct or frustrate the purposes of God’s people. While it appears only once in the Hebrew canon, the concept reverberates through Scripture wherever malicious opposition rises against the covenant community.

Canonical Occurrence

Ezra 4:6: “At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.”

The single usage supplies a vivid snapshot of post-exilic resistance: adversaries of Judah marshal political power to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and temple.

Historical Setting

1. Period: Early reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, 486–465 BC).
2. Political Climate: Persian monarchs depended on provincial reports to maintain order; a formal “accusation” could trigger royal intervention.
3. Covenant Context: Returning exiles sought to restore worship and identity in the land promised to Abraham. The submitted sitnah threatened not merely construction schedules but the unfolding of redemptive history.

Theological Themes

Persecution of the People of God
• Ezra’s community mirrors earlier assaults on Israel (Exodus 1; Numbers 22; 1 Samuel 17) and anticipates later hostility toward the Church (Acts 4:1-22).
• Opposition is permitted yet bounded by divine sovereignty (Ezra 5–6 records ultimate success).

Accuser Motif
• Sitnah resonates with the broader biblical portrait of Satan, “the accuser of our brothers” (Revelation 12:10).
• Earthly accusations echo a cosmic conflict: human plots embody spiritual enmity against God’s kingdom purposes.

Providence and Perseverance
• Although the letter initially stalls progress, prophetic exhortation (Haggai 2:4-5; Zechariah 4:6-7) and subsequent royal decrees overturn the obstruction.
• The episode teaches that apparent setbacks become stages for God to display faithfulness.

Intertextual Connections

Nehemiah 4: schemes, ridicule, and legal machinations parallel Ezra’s sitnah.

Psalm 109:31: “He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul.”

1 Peter 2:23: Christ “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” amid false accusations, providing the ultimate pattern of response.

Ministry Implications

• Expect opposition: Faithful work will provoke antagonism; forearmed congregations remain steadfast.
• Rely on righteous advocacy: Believers appeal to the heavenly Judge rather than retaliate in kind (Romans 12:17-21).
• Encourage persistence in kingdom projects—whether church planting, missions, or social witness—despite bureaucratic or cultural resistance.
• Ground intercession in the precedent of Ezra: pray for favor with authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-2) while committing outcomes to God.

Christological Fulfillment

Just as sitnah sought to halt the rebuilding of the temple, later accusations culminated in attempts to destroy Jesus, “the temple of His body” (John 2:21). Yet God overturned every charge through resurrection, guaranteeing that no accusation can ultimately separate believers from His redemptive plan (Romans 8:33-34).

Summary

שִׂטְנָה embodies hostile accusation aimed at thwarting God’s people. Its lone appearance in Ezra crystallizes a timeless reality: the covenant community faces legalistic and spiritual opposition, yet divine sovereignty ensures the triumph of His purposes and the vindication of His servants.

שִׂטְנָ֔ה שטנה śiṭ·nāh sitNah śiṭnāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts