Definition: And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Ezra 4:5. It’s a bit complex, but here’s a simple explanation: Basically, this verse tells us that people who were trying to do something in ancient Judah (which is now Israel) were actively being challenged by people from Persia. Here’s a breakdown of what each part means: “Ezra 4:5” : This refers to a specific event in the Bible – a period where Ezra, a Jewish leader, was working to restore the laws and traditions of God's people after a time when they were exiled. “And hired counsellers against them…” : This means Ezra’s group of advisors (the "counselors") actively worked to stop or hinder the efforts of those who were trying to do something wrong or against God’s will. “…to frustrate their purpose…” : This is a crucial part. “Purpose” refers to the goals or plans they had. They were trying to do something – maybe rebuild a temple, follow certain laws, etc. - but Ezra's group was actively trying to stop them. “all the days of Cyrus king of Persia…” : This is where it gets really important. “Cyrus” was the King of Persia during this time. "King of Persia" means he ruled over a vast empire that stretched across parts of what is now Iran, Iraq, and other countries. "All the days of..." means for a very long time – essentially, forever . So, putting it all together: Ezra’s group was actively working to stop people from trying to do something in Judah, for a really long period of time, even until Cyrus's reign in Persia. Important Context (Briefly): This verse is part of a larger story about the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Ezra and his group were challenging those who were trying to rebuild it in a way that didn’t follow God’s instructions. Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you a little more context about this period in history?