Ezra 7 12

Ezra 7:12 kjv

Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

Ezra 7:12 nkjv

Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth.

Ezra 7:12 niv

Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.

Ezra 7:12 esv

"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now

Ezra 7:12 nlt

"From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.

Ezra 7 verses

Ezra 7 12 Meaning

This verse begins King Artaxerxes I's official letter and decree concerning Ezra's mission. It establishes the king's high standing ("king of kings") and then directly addresses Ezra, acknowledging his dual role as "the priest" and "a scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven," thus validating Ezra's spiritual and intellectual authority before outlining the contents of the royal mandate. The opening "Peace" (Shalom) is a formal salutation indicating a wish for well-being.

Ezra 7 12 Context

This verse is the very beginning of the official letter (Aramaic section) from Artaxerxes I, the king of Persia, addressed to Ezra. It initiates the royal decree that grants Ezra unprecedented authority to lead a group of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem, collect funds for the Temple, establish the Mosaic Law, and appoint judges and magistrates. Historically, it falls in the second wave of returns to Judah during the post-exilic period, around 458 BC. The first return focused on rebuilding the Temple; this decree shifts focus to the restoration of religious life and societal order under the Law, with Ezra, a skilled priest and scribe, leading this crucial spiritual revival. It underscores the divine orchestration where even a pagan king becomes an instrument for God's purposes in fulfilling His covenant promises to Israel.

Ezra 7 12 Word analysis

• Artaxerxes: The reigning Persian king (Artaxerxes I Longimanus, ruled 465-424 BC). His decree highlights God's sovereignty over Gentile rulers, moving the hearts of kings to achieve His divine plan (Pro 21:1).

• king of kings: (Aramaic: melekh malkayyaʾ). A common self-designation used by powerful ancient Near Eastern monarchs to assert their supreme authority over vassal rulers and territories. While human kings used this title, Scripture reserves its ultimate application for God alone, indicating divine sovereignty (Rev 19:16). This usage by Artaxerxes indirectly points to a universal understanding of hierarchy, but truly reflects only a delegated or temporary earthly power.

• to Ezra: (Aramaic: Ezrāʾ). Identifies the recipient and the individual whose authority is being affirmed.

• the priest: (Aramaic: kōhēn). Designates Ezra's inherited spiritual office from the lineage of Aaron (Ezra 7:1-5). This confirms his spiritual legitimacy and right to deal with Temple affairs and Law interpretation.

• a scribe: (Aramaic: sāphar). A highly esteemed position in the Persian empire. Here, it refers specifically to an expert in religious law. Ezra is depicted as exceptionally skilled and learned (Ezra 7:6, "skillful in the Law of Moses"), indicating deep study, interpretation, and teaching. This role was critical for the post-exilic community to understand and live by the Law, laying the groundwork for the scribal tradition.

• of the Law: (Aramaic: dāth). Refers to the divine instruction, the Torah, given by God through Moses. It is not just human legislation but divine revelation, the blueprint for covenant life.

• of the God of Heaven: (Aramaic: ʾĔlāh shəmayyāʾ). A common term used in the Persian empire (and also by post-exilic Jews, e.g., Neh 1:4, Jon 1:9) to refer to the supreme deity. This designation would be familiar to Artaxerxes, but for the Israelites, it powerfully affirmed the universal, transcendent sovereignty of YHWH, above all other gods and local deities. It serves as an indirect polemic against Persian polytheism by acknowledging a supreme divine being whose Law Ezra represents.

• Peace: (Aramaic: shəlām). The Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew "shalom," a standard ancient Near Eastern greeting and salutation. It signifies well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and a complete state of health and harmonious relationships.

• And now...: (Aramaic: ukheʿan). A transitional phrase leading directly into the specific directives and body of the letter. It signals that the preliminary address is complete and the substance of the decree follows.

• Words-group Analysis

  • "Artaxerxes, king of kings": This initial designation immediately establishes the immense earthly power and authority from which the decree emanates. Yet, in the broader biblical narrative, it implicitly contrasts with the ultimate "King of kings" who is God, showcasing God's sovereign control over even the mightiest human rulers.
  • "Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law": This dual description of Ezra highlights his unique and divinely ordained qualifications. His priestly lineage gave him sacred authority in worship and Temple matters, while his expertise as a scribe of the Law equipped him to interpret, teach, and enforce God's commandments for practical daily life, which was paramount for spiritual restoration after the exile.
  • "of the God of Heaven": This significant phrase not only acknowledges Ezra's divine commission but also positions the Law's authority as stemming from a supreme, transcendent God. It reflects Artaxerxes' (or his Persian administration's) pragmatic acknowledgment of the Jews' specific God, but biblically, it emphasizes YHWH's universal dominion that transcends national borders and pagan pantheons.

Ezra 7 12 Bonus section

• The transition to Aramaic in Ezra 7:12 (and certain previous sections) indicates that these passages represent official Persian imperial documents or correspondence, adding historical and administrative authenticity to the narrative.
• The title "God of Heaven" used by a pagan king is highly significant. While potentially a diplomatic phrase that resonates with a monotheistic concept applicable to multiple "supreme deities," for the Jewish audience, it strongly affirmed YHWH's supreme and universal authority above all other gods of the nations, underscoring that their God was the true, transcendent Creator.
• Ezra's prominence as a "scribe of the Law" foreshadows the emergence of scribal academies and later the Rabbinic tradition, where intense study, interpretation, and teaching of the Torah became central to Jewish life in the absence of prophetic revelation or a centralized sacrificial cult after the Second Temple's destruction.

Ezra 7 12 Commentary

Ezra 7:12 marks the beginning of the crucial royal decree that fully empowered Ezra's mission, showcasing God's intricate orchestration of history. The opening address by "Artaxerxes, king of kings," immediately conveys the high stakes and vast influence of the issuing authority. More profoundly, this king, a pagan ruler, explicitly acknowledges Ezra's role concerning "the God of Heaven." This is a testament to the Lord's transcendent sovereignty, for He can even incline the hearts of non-believing monarchs to serve His purposes, securing the conditions necessary for His covenant people to live under His Law. Ezra’s description as both "priest" and "scribe of the Law" elevates him to a uniquely qualified leader for this spiritual reformation—someone divinely sanctioned by birth (priest) and thoroughly learned in God's revelation (scribe). The "Peace" is a typical salutation, setting a positive tone before the weighty instructions follow. This verse underscores that the spiritual restoration of Israel would proceed not just by human effort but by divine enablement operating through earthly channels, ultimately elevating the importance of God's revealed Law in the lives of His people.