Original Word: כְּנָת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: knath
Pronunciation: keh-nath
Phonetic Spelling: (ken-awth')
KJV: companion
NASB: colleagues
Word Origin: [from H3655 (כָּנָה - flatter)]

1. a colleague (as having the same title)

companion

From kanah; a colleague (as having the same title) -- companion.

see HEBREW kanah

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
associate, colleague
NASB Translation
colleagues (1).

[כְּנָת] noun [of men, but feminine in form, Ges^{§ 122}, 4. b] associate, colleague (loan-word from Biblical Aramaic כְּנָת; Syriac , compare also Schw^{Idioticon 46}; on formative see Lag^{BN 82}); — only Aram plural שְׁאָר כְּנָוֺתָו֯ Ezra 4:7 the rest of his associates.

Meaning and Range of Sense

כְּנָת denotes an associate, companion, or colleague functioning within a larger group. It is a communal term rather than an individual name, emphasizing collective identity and shared purpose—whether noble or hostile.

Occurrence in Scripture

• Ezra 4:7 – “In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their associates wrote to him”.

Although the word appears only once, the passage itself is pivotal, marking the transition from Hebrew narrative to Aramaic correspondence (Ezra 4:8–6:18). The single use therefore carries literary as well as historical weight.

Historical Setting

The verse belongs to the early Persian period, when Judah’s returned exiles were rebuilding the temple. Regional officials—descendants of peoples transplanted by Assyrian and Babylonian policy—viewed the renewed Jewish presence as a threat to political and economic influence. They therefore formed a coalition (“associates”) and petitioned Artaxerxes to halt construction. Their letter succeeded temporarily (Ezra 4:23-24), illustrating how local alliances could manipulate imperial authority.

Literary Function

1. Transition marker: Ezra 4:7 introduces Aramaic, the diplomatic lingua franca, highlighting that the opposition employed official channels.
2. Corporate opposition: By naming “the rest of their associates,” the writer stresses the organized, coordinated character of resistance—more than isolated antagonists; an entire network stood against covenant restoration.
3. Contrast: The term underscores the difference between the faith-driven unity of the remnant (Ezra 3:1) and the self-interested unity of their opponents.

Theological Implications

• Sovereignty of God. Human alliances, no matter how extensive, cannot thwart divine decree permanently. Construction resumes under Darius (Ezra 6:14-15), confirming Proverbs 21:30.
• Purity of worship. The coalition’s attempt to join the project earlier (Ezra 4:1-3) was rejected to guard doctrinal integrity. The word כְּנָת shows that shared labor without shared faith jeopardizes covenant obedience.
• Spiritual warfare. Opposition often gathers strength through networks; yet God raises His own servants—Haggai and Zechariah—to encourage perseverance (Haggai 2:4; Zechariah 4:6-9).

Ministry Applications

1. Discern alliances. Churches and ministries must weigh cooperation carefully; unity around the gospel is essential, but unity that dilutes truth imperils mission.
2. Expect organized resistance. When believers pursue God’s purposes, opposition may escalate beyond individuals to institutions. Preparing the flock includes teaching a theology of suffering and steadfastness (1 Peter 4:12-14).
3. Use lawful means without trusting them supremely. Ezra’s adversaries exploited imperial bureaucracy; later, Ezra and Nehemiah also appeal to Persian law (Ezra 7; Nehemiah 2), yet they root confidence in prayer and covenant promise (Nehemiah 4:9).

Related Biblical Parallels

• Nehemiah 4:7-8 – Sanballat and Tobiah gather “the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites” against the wall.
• Psalm 2:1-2 – “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed.”
• Acts 4:23-31 – Early believers recall Psalm 2 when civil and religious authorities unite against the gospel.

Summary

כְּנָת reminds readers that alliances can be forged either for or against the Lord’s work. Its solitary appearance at a critical juncture in Ezra captures the tension between human coalitions and divine determination. Recognizing such dynamics equips God’s people to pursue faithful obedience, confident that every gathering of opponents is ultimately subservient to the sovereign plan of God.

כְּנָוֹתָ֔יו כנותיו kə·nā·wō·ṯāw kenavoTav kənāwōṯāwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts