Ezra 7:11 kjv
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezra 7:11 nkjv
This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel:
Ezra 7:11 niv
This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel:
Ezra 7:11 esv
This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel:
Ezra 7:11 nlt
King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the LORD to Israel:
Ezra 7 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 28:1 | "Have Aaron your brother brought to you...that he may serve me as priest." | The calling and separation of priests. |
| Deut 6:6-7 | "These words that I command you...teach them diligently to your children..." | Importance of teaching God's commands. |
| Psa 19:7 | "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul..." | Divine nature and perfection of God's Law. |
| Psa 119:104 | "Through Your precepts I get understanding..." | God's statutes providing wisdom. |
| Isa 45:1-3 | "Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus...that I may subdue nations..." | God's use of pagan kings for His purpose. |
| Ezra 7:6 | "Ezra came up from Babylon, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses..." | Foreshadowing Ezra's role as a scribe. |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord..." | Ezra's dedication to God's Law. |
| Neh 8:1 | "And all the people gathered as one man...to Ezra the scribe..." | Ezra's public role in teaching the Law. |
| Neh 8:8 | "They read from the book, from the Law of God...so that they understood the reading." | Ezra and others expounding the Law. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Priestly duty to teach and preserve law. |
| 2 Chr 34:15 | "Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law...'" | The role of scribes in handling the Law. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord..." | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant...I will put My law within them..." | Internalization of God's Law in New Cov. |
| Matt 23:2 | "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat..." | Later context of scribes' authority. |
| Mark 1:22 | "And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority..." | Christ's authority in teaching contrast. |
| Acts 7:38 | "He was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai..." | Moses receiving God's statutes. |
| Rom 7:12 | "So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." | The good and divine nature of God's Law. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching..." | Inspiration and utility of God's written Word. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Power and penetration of God's Word. |
| Heb 5:6 | "As He says also in another place, 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.'" | Christ as the ultimate priest. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | Believers as a spiritual priesthood. |
| Luke 11:52 | "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge..." | Condemnation of those who obstruct knowledge of God's Law. |
Ezra 7 verses
Ezra 7 11 Meaning
Ezra 7:11 presents the opening statement of the royal decree issued by King Artaxerxes to Ezra. It introduces Ezra as a central figure, explicitly defining him as both a priest and a scribe—specifically, an expert scribe devoted to the "words of the commandments of the Lord and of His statutes given to Israel." This verse sets the stage for Ezra's significant mission to return to Jerusalem and enforce the Mosaic Law among the Jewish people. It underscores the divine authority underpinning Ezra's role, despite the decree originating from a pagan king, highlighting God's sovereignty in orchestrating events for His people.
Ezra 7 11 Context
Ezra chapter 7 transitions from the completion of the Second Temple (Ezra 1-6) to the religious and social reform in Judah. This reform is spearheaded by Ezra, approximately sixty years after the temple's dedication. Verse 11 introduces King Artaxerxes' (Longimanus) formal decree, which provides Ezra with unprecedented authority and resources to return to Jerusalem. The larger context is the ongoing restoration of the Jewish community after the Babylonian exile, moving beyond physical reconstruction to spiritual renewal and adherence to God's Law. The Persian empire, under divine providence, facilitated this by empowering Ezra.
Ezra 7 11 Word analysis
- Now this is the copy: "copy" (פַרְשֶׁגֶן, parshegen - Aramaic): This term signifies a "duplicate," "copy," or "transcript." It emphasizes the official nature of the document being presented, ensuring its authenticity and authority. It suggests a faithful rendition of the original royal decree.
- of the letter (אִגְּרָא, ’iggera’ - Aramaic): Refers to an official, authoritative document, specifically a royal edict or communication. It conveys the legal binding force of the king's instructions to Ezra.
- that King Artaxerxes: Artaxerxes: Artaxerxes I Longimanus (465–424 BC), the king of the Persian Empire. His rule followed Xerxes I. His involvement underscores the divine providence active through Gentile rulers, echoing earlier actions by Cyrus.
- gave (יְהִיבַת, yehivath - Aramaic): Literally "was given" or "had been given." This perfect passive form indicates a completed action by the king, affirming the established authority of the decree and Ezra’s reception of it.
- to Ezra the priest (לְעֶזְרָא כֹהֲנָא, le’ezra’ kohena’ - Aramaic): Ezra: From the Hebrew "עֶזְרָה" (‘Ezrah), meaning "help." Ezra is a key figure in the post-exilic restoration, traditionally seen as the great compiler and re-establisher of the Mosaic Law. Priest (כֹּהֵן, kohen - Hebrew root, here in Aramaic suffix): A descendant of Aaron, authorized to officiate in the worship of Yahweh and to teach God's Law. This emphasizes his spiritual authority and lineage.
- the scribe (סָפְרָא, saphra’ - Aramaic): Scribe (סוֹפֵר, sopher - Hebrew root, here in Aramaic suffix): One who writes, records, or counts. In the context of biblical scholarship, a sopher eventually came to refer to an expert in the Law, responsible for copying, preserving, and interpreting the Scriptures. Ezra's specific designation as a scribe is profoundly significant, denoting his expertise in the Torah.
- even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord (סָפְרָא דִי-מִלֵּי מִצְוֹת־יְהוָה, saphra’ di-milley mitzvath-YHWH - Aramaic/Hebrew): Words of the commandments (מִלֵּי מִצְוֹת, milley mitzvath - Aramaic/Hebrew mix): This phrase specifies the content of Ezra’s scribal expertise. He is not just any scribe but an expert in divine instruction, setting him apart from royal or secular scribes. It grounds his authority in God's revelation. Lord (יהוה, YHWH - Hebrew): The Tetragrammaton, the personal covenant name of God. This firmly establishes the divine origin and sacredness of the laws Ezra deals with. It is Yahweh’s commandments, not human ones.
- and of His statutes (וְחֻקֵּיהּ, vechuqeyh - Aramaic): Statutes (חֻקִּים, chuqqim - Hebrew root, here in Aramaic suffix): Refers to decrees, ordinances, or established laws that often carry the force of fixed and unchanging precepts, emphasizing their binding and unalterable nature as given by God.
- to Israel (לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, leyisra’el - Aramaic/Hebrew mix): * The recipient and focus of these divine laws and Ezra's mission. This re-establishes God's ongoing covenant relationship with His chosen people, despite their exile and present subjection to a foreign power.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Ezra the priest, the scribe": This phrase succinctly combines two authoritative and complementary roles. As a priest, Ezra holds Levitical authority for religious ceremonies and teaching. As a scribe, especially an expert in God's Law, he possesses the intellectual and scholarly authority necessary to interpret and implement that law. This dual qualification makes him uniquely suited for the spiritual reformation.
- "a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His statutes to Israel": This expands on the nature of Ezra's scribal role. He is not merely a copier or government official but a specialist in divine law. The phrase emphasizes that his expertise and subsequent authority come directly from the divine origin and immutable nature of God’s commandments and statutes intended for the people of Israel. It differentiates his authority from any purely human or secular one, even though empowered by a human king.
- "that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra": This highlights the incredible divine providence. A pagan king is an instrument in God's hands to commission and equip His servant, Ezra, for the work of rebuilding spiritual Israel. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over earthly powers, bending even those unaware of Him to serve His redemptive plan.
Ezra 7 11 Bonus section
- Aramaic Text: Ezra chapters 4:8–6:18 and 7:12–26 are written in Aramaic, reflecting the lingua franca of the Persian Empire and adding an official tone to the royal correspondence. This section, including 7:11, shows the historical precision in recording administrative documents of that era.
- Continuity of Prophetic/Legal Role: Ezra, as a priest and a scribe skilled in God's Law, represents a crucial link between the Mosaic period of law-giving and the later scribal tradition. His ministry helped solidify the centrality of the written Torah in Jewish life after the oral transmission and limited access during the exile. He acts as a spiritual bridge.
- Preparation for Ezra's Mission: The explicit statement of Ezra's qualifications by the king suggests either that Artaxerxes was remarkably well-informed, or more likely, that Ezra presented himself and his mission in these terms, perhaps providing justification for his authority rooted in divine law, which the king acknowledged or at least facilitated for imperial stability.
Ezra 7 11 Commentary
Ezra 7:11 serves as a foundational declaration of Ezra's authority and purpose. It introduces Ezra not simply as a religious leader but as a dual figure embodying both sacerdotal and scholarly excellence. His priestly lineage grants him an inherent connection to the Aaronic ministry, while his distinction as a scribe "of the words of the commandments of the Lord" establishes his intellectual mastery and devoted adherence to divine revelation. This particular qualification implies not only skill in copying but also deep understanding and interpretation of the Torah. The mention of "His statutes to Israel" further reinforces the direct, divine origin and target audience of the law he is to implement. The unexpected detail that this comprehensive authority comes from King Artaxerxes underscores a major theological theme throughout Ezra-Nehemiah: God's sovereignty extends over all earthly rulers, moving their hearts to fulfill His purposes for His people. Ezra's mission, sanctioned by both divine calling and royal decree, therefore possesses an irrefutable mandate for spiritual restoration in post-exilic Judah, focusing on renewed covenant obedience to Yahweh's Law.