Ezra 5:7 kjv
They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
Ezra 5:7 nkjv
(They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus) To Darius the king: All peace.
Ezra 5:7 niv
The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings.
Ezra 5:7 esv
They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: "To Darius the king, all peace.
Ezra 5:7 nlt
"To King Darius. Greetings.
Ezra 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 4:1 | "Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples..." | A king sending a letter/decree to his subjects. |
| Dan 6:25 | "Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples..." | Another example of King Darius sending official correspondence. |
| Ezra 4:8 | "Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king..." | Previous antagonistic report sent to a king. |
| Ezra 7:11-12 | "Now this is the copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave..." | Example of royal letter being quoted directly. |
| Neh 2:7 | "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors..." | Letters crucial for administrative purposes. |
| Esth 3:12 | "Then the king's scribes were summoned... letters were written..." | Royal decrees written and dispatched. |
| Esth 8:9-10 | "Then the king's scribes were summoned... written in the name of King Ahasuerus..." | Official letters carrying royal authority. |
| Jer 29:1-7 | "These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem..." | Sending official communication in exile. |
| 1 Kgs 10:2 | "And she came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue..." | Kings engaging in official visits and communications. |
| 2 Chr 9:1 | "When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem..." | Royal figures interacting through official means. |
| 2 Sam 8:10 | "And Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him..." | Diplomatic greetings between rulers. |
| Gen 43:23 | "He said, 'Peace be to you, do not be afraid...'" | Biblical greeting of "peace" in a broad sense. |
| 1 Chr 12:18 | "...Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers..." | Greeting of comprehensive peace, like a blessing. |
| Gal 1:3 | "Grace to you and peace from God our Father..." | Apostolic greetings include "peace." |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities..." | Submission and proper address to rulers. |
| Tit 3:1 | "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities..." | Instructions to respect and obey governmental powers. |
| 1 Pet 2:13 | "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution..." | General command for submission to human authority. |
| Isa 39:1 | "At that time Merodach-baladan... sent letters and a present to Hezekiah..." | Foreign rulers sending diplomatic letters. |
| 2 Kgs 5:6 | "...A letter to the king of Israel: 'When this letter reaches you...'" | A letter seeking assistance from a king. |
| 2 Kgs 10:1-2 | "Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters..." | Royal correspondence in times of political upheaval. |
Ezra 5 verses
Ezra 5 7 Meaning
Ezra 5:7 records the formal opening of an official letter or report sent by Tattenai, the governor of Trans-Euphrates (Beyond the River), and his associates to King Darius I. This verse states that they dispatched a message to the king, beginning with a standard administrative salutation, "To Darius the king, all peace." It introduces the precise account of their investigation into the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem by the returning Jewish exiles, emphasizing the formal and deferential tone adopted by the provincial authorities when addressing their sovereign.
Ezra 5 7 Context
Ezra chapter 5 begins after the Jewish exiles, prompted by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, resumed rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, despite a prior decree from King Artaxerxes that had halted construction. This resumption drew the attention of Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River (Trans-Euphrates), and his officials. In accordance with proper administrative protocol, Tattenai sought to verify the legitimacy of the construction project. Verse 7 specifically initiates their formal written inquiry to King Darius I (Darius Hystaspes), who had recently ascended the throne. This letter serves as a crucial point in the narrative, leading to a royal search of the archives that ultimately confirmed Cyrus's original decree and Darius's subsequent support for the temple's completion. The immediate chapter context establishes this letter as a critical official inquiry, following the unexpected resumption of work by the Jews (Ezra 5:1-6). The broader historical context is the early Persian Empire, a period marked by vast administrative networks and precise record-keeping, where provinces communicated with the central authority through such official reports.
Ezra 5 7 Word analysis
- They sent (שְׁלַחוּ - shlach-hu): An Aramaic verb, meaning "they dispatched," "they sent." This emphasizes the formal act of official communication from provincial authorities to the king, not a casual message. It signifies a deliberate administrative action.
- a report (פִּתְגָמָא - pitgama): An Aramaic noun, meaning "word," "decree," "report," "message," or "official communication." It highlights that what follows is a formal written document or governmental dispatch, carrying legal weight and necessitating a response from the king. It underscores the official nature of the inquiry.
- to him (לֵהּ - leh): The Aramaic pronominal suffix "to him" directly refers to King Darius, already implied as the recipient of the "report." It points to the direct and authoritative channel of communication within the Persian administrative system.
- in which was written (כְּתִיב כֵּן - k'tiv ken): "Was written thus." An Aramaic phrase that signals the direct quotation of the letter's content. This often appears in administrative and legal texts to indicate that the exact words of a document follow, lending authenticity and precision to the account.
- thus: Serves as an introductory word indicating that the precise text of the letter will now be presented.
- To Darius the king (לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא - l'daryavesh malka): Aramaic phrase, clearly identifying the specific addressee as King Darius I. This is standard formal protocol for addressing the supreme monarch, indicating respect and recognition of his authority. Darius I Hystaspes ruled the Persian Empire from 522 to 486 BC, providing a precise historical anchor.
- all peace (שְׁלָמָא כָלָּא - shlama kolla): A standard Aramaic/Semitic salutation, much more profound than a simple "hello." Shlama (שְׁלָמָא) signifies holistic well-being, completeness, prosperity, security, health, and reconciliation. Kolla (כָּלָּא) means "all" or "complete." So, "all peace" conveys a wish for comprehensive welfare, good fortune, and undisturbed reign for the king. It functions as a diplomatic blessing, indicating submission and respectful deference from the subordinate official. It implies a desire for harmonious relations and expresses loyalty before presenting the sensitive content of the report. This general greeting reflects a customary practice in official correspondence of the ancient Near East, designed to establish a respectful and polite tone, regardless of the challenging nature of the report that follows.
Ezra 5 7 Bonus section
The Aramaic language used from Ezra 4:8 through 6:18 and again in 7:12-26 indicates the nature of these texts as official state documents, mirroring the administrative language of the Persian Empire. This usage adds to the authenticity of Ezra’s account, confirming that the book preserves original administrative correspondence. The practice of writing letters to the king about provincial affairs was a common feature of centralized empires, allowing the king to maintain control and make informed decisions regarding his vast territories. This verse exemplifies a meticulous system of governance where officials reported meticulously, and the king was the ultimate arbiter, highlighting God's providential control even over the details of human governments to achieve His purposes for His people.
Ezra 5 7 Commentary
Ezra 5:7 acts as the administrative preface to a crucial report, highlighting the systematic functioning of the Persian Empire's bureaucracy under King Darius I. The immediate dispatch of an "official report" using formal Aramaic terms signifies that this was not a casual complaint but a carefully documented governmental inquiry into the activities of the Jews in Jerusalem. The phrase "in which was written thus" underscores the fidelity of the biblical text in presenting the precise words of historical documents, lending authenticity to the narrative. The salutation "To Darius the king, all peace" is not merely polite but strategic. In ancient Near Eastern diplomatic contexts, such a comprehensive wish for "all peace" expressed complete deference and a desire for harmony, despite the fact that the ensuing letter (as detailed in Ezra 5:8-17) would challenge the legitimacy of the temple reconstruction and implicitly question previous imperial decisions. This opening therefore exemplifies both bureaucratic procedure and diplomatic tact in approaching a monarch with potentially contentious news. It demonstrates God's sovereignty working through pagan governmental structures and their legal protocols to achieve His redemptive purposes.