Ezra 7:18 kjv
And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
Ezra 7:18 nkjv
And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God.
Ezra 7:18 niv
You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God.
Ezra 7:18 esv
Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.
Ezra 7:18 nlt
Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
Ezra 7 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. | Seek divine guidance in all decisions. |
| Rom 12:2 | And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. | Discerning God's will for practical action. |
| Col 1:9-10 | ...that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord... | Living out God's will with understanding. |
| Deut 4:6 | Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations... | Obedience to God's law as wisdom. |
| Ezra 7:10 | For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. | Ezra's commitment to God's will. |
| 1 Chr 29:14 | ...for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. | Stewardship, acknowledging God as owner. |
| 1 Cor 4:2 | Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. | Faithfulness in managing resources. |
| Matt 25:14 | For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. | Parable of talents; using resources wisely. |
| Luke 16:10 | He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much... | Principle of faithfulness in managing finances. |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. | God enables both desire and action. |
| Heb 13:21 | Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ... | Equipping for doing God's will. |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delighteth in his way. | Divine direction for righteous living. |
| Ps 119:105 | Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. | God's Word illuminates His will. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee... | Obedience to the Law for prosperity. |
| Isa 45:1 | Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden... | God uses pagan kings for His purposes. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. | God's sovereignty over rulers. |
| Ezra 1:1-4 | Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation... | God moving pagan rulers for His people. |
| 2 Chr 29:36 | And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. | God's preparation and enabling. |
| Phil 4:19 | But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God provides resources for His work. |
| Ps 133:1 | Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! | Implied harmony among Ezra and brethren. |
Ezra 7 verses
Ezra 7 18 Meaning
Ezra 7:18 grants Ezra and his fellow exiles discretionary power over the remaining silver and gold brought from Babylon, instructing them to utilize these resources in strict accordance with the will of their God. It highlights the importance of discerning and acting upon divine guidance in the practical administration of sacred funds. This royal decree from Artaxerxes not only signifies trust in Ezra but also a remarkable recognition, even by a pagan ruler, of the sovereignty and specific will of Israel's God concerning His people's affairs.
Ezra 7 18 Context
Ezra chapter 7 narrates the journey of Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem and the significant commission he receives from King Artaxerxes of Persia. Verses 12-26 detail the extensive royal decree, which authorized Ezra, a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, to go to Judea, implement God's law, collect offerings, and beautify the temple. This decree included significant financial provisions: gold and silver for offerings, and materials for the temple. Verse 18 falls within this larger decree, specifically after the king has outlined initial allocations for sacrifices and temple adornments (verses 15-17). Historically, this occurred around 458 BC, well after the initial return under Zerubbabel and the completion of the Second Temple. Ezra's mission was to establish proper religious and civic order based on the Torah, hence the authority granted to him regarding remaining resources to be used according to God's will, ensuring integrity in sacred finances and operations.
Ezra 7 18 Word analysis
- Whatsoever shall seem good: Aramaic
di ‘ala lak(literally, "that which rises upon you" or "comes up to you"). This phrase indicates discretionary power, personal judgment, and decision-making authority given to Ezra. It is not an arbitrary choice but a thoughtful assessment, expected to be guided by wisdom. - to thee and to thy brethren: Refers to Ezra (the chief delegate) and the Levites, temple servants, and other religious leaders who accompanied him or were already in Jerusalem. This indicates shared responsibility and communal decision-making among those with spiritual understanding and oversight.
- to do: Implies active implementation, management, and deployment of the resources. It signifies practical administration, not passive holding.
- with the rest of the silver and the gold: This portion of the wealth granted by Artaxerxes (and from Babylon) was not specifically earmarked for fixed expenditures like sacrifices or temple ornamentation (as in Ezra 7:16-17). It represents residual funds or funds designated for broader, perhaps unforeseen, needs within the framework of God's will. This suggests flexibility and trust.
- that do: An imperative, commanding execution of the discerned decision.
- after the will: Aramaic
ki re'ut(according to the pleasure, delight, or desire). This term profoundly constrains the "discretionary" power. Human judgment is not supreme; it must conform to the divine will. This acknowledges a higher authority guiding all actions, especially those related to God's house and people. - your God: Artaxerxes, a pagan king, acknowledges the specific God of the Israelites. This highlights divine sovereignty working through human rulers, shaping political decrees to fulfill His purposes. It's a pragmatic recognition of the religious distinctiveness of the Judeans and a diplomatic move to ensure their loyalty by supporting their worship.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren...that do": This phrase establishes a mandate for responsible governance and communal decision-making. It highlights the principle of entrusting individuals and leadership with resources, but crucially, empowering them to make context-dependent choices. The collective aspect ("thee and thy brethren") implies accountability and consensus among those discerning God's will.
- "the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God": This pairing directly links all resource allocation, even for "residual" funds, to divine instruction. It implies that material wealth, when consecrated for God's purposes, must be handled with utmost reverence and intentionality, aligning every expenditure with the Lord's desires and commandments. This is a foundational principle of biblical stewardship: discernment is not divorced from divine authority.
Ezra 7 18 Bonus section
The seemingly pagan King Artaxerxes' explicit command to act "after the will of your God" is a significant testament to God's sovereignty working in the global arena. This illustrates that God's plan can override political motivations and manifest through unexpected channels. It underscores the concept that kings' hearts are in God's hands (Prov 21:1). The detailed financial provision from the king also suggests his advisors (including Ezra) might have impressed upon him the immense importance of Yahweh's Law in governing the stability of the Persian empire's distant provinces. This alignment between pagan rule and divine will prepared the ground for Ezra's extensive reforms and the teaching of the Torah (Ezra 7:25-26).
Ezra 7 18 Commentary
Ezra 7:18 is a concise yet powerful directive from a foreign king, imbued with profound theological implications. It mandates that discretionary decisions concerning substantial financial resources for God's people and His temple must be tethered strictly to God's revealed will. This is not about seeking God's permission for pre-determined human plans, but about truly discerning His intent for the resources He has provided. It underscores that all actions, especially those undertaken in ministry or for divine purposes, must originate from and align with divine principles, rather than human whim or mere expediency. It showcases the comprehensive nature of God's providence, orchestrating even the decrees of pagan kings to serve His covenant people and His plan for the restoration of worship and obedience.
For example, when handling communal church funds today, this verse teaches that expenditures beyond regular operational costs or specific programs should still be determined through prayer, biblical wisdom, and communal counsel, ensuring they honor God's purposes, whether for missions, community outreach, or support for the needy, rather than merely convenience or preference.