Ezra 7:25 kjv
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
Ezra 7:25 nkjv
And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.
Ezra 7:25 niv
And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates?all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
Ezra 7:25 esv
"And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach.
Ezra 7:25 nlt
"And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God's laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.
Ezra 7 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 16:18 | "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates..." | Appointing judges for justice |
| Exo 18:21-22 | "...choose able men... and place such over them as rulers of thousands..." | Delegation of judicial authority |
| Dt 1:13 | "Choose wise, understanding, and experienced men..." | Criteria for selecting leaders |
| 2 Chr 19:6-7 | "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD..." | Divine source and standard of judicial authority |
| Dt 4:5-6 | "See, I have taught you statutes... that you may observe them..." | Laws are from God and for instruction |
| Ps 19:7-8 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul..." | Excellence and life-giving power of God's law |
| Ps 119:1 | "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!" | Walking according to God's law leads to blessing |
| Prv 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding..." | God is the ultimate source of wisdom |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously..." | Prayer for and reception of divine wisdom |
| Ezra 7:6 | "Ezra came up from Babylonia... he was a scribe skilled in the Law..." | Ezra's expertise and divine favor |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD and to practice it..." | Ezra's personal commitment to God's law |
| Mt 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching them..." | The Great Commission: teaching divine truth |
| 2 Tim 2:2 | "...what you have heard from me... entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also..." | Perpetuating faithful instruction |
| Neh 8:1-8 | Ezra reads and explains the Law to the assembled people | Public instruction in God's law |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities..." | Submission to God-ordained secular authority |
| Ezra 6:12 | "...destroy any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this..." | Persian protection for divine decrees related to Jewish worship |
| Jos 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth..." | Continual adherence to and study of God's law |
| Exod 24:12 | "...I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment..." | Law received directly from God's own revelation |
| Jer 31:33 | "...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." | Internalization of God's law in the New Covenant |
| John 7:17 | "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God..." | Experiential knowledge of God's will through obedience |
| Ps 1:2 | "...his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." | Delight in and meditation on God's law |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God... profitable for teaching..." | Sufficiency of Scripture for instruction |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant... I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | Divine law internalized as a new covenant promise |
| Lk 10:26-27 | Jesus' answer concerning "What is written in the Law?" and loving God | Emphasizes knowing and fulfilling the Law's essence |
Ezra 7 verses
Ezra 7 25 Meaning
Ezra chapter 7 verse 25 details a specific command from King Artaxerxes to Ezra, empowering him to establish a robust legal and educational system for the Jewish people residing in the Persian province of Trans-Euphrates. This system was to be founded upon the laws of Ezra's God. Ezra's mandate encompassed appointing qualified magistrates and judges who would administer justice to all those familiar with God's laws. Furthermore, and significantly, he was to diligently instruct and teach these divine laws to anyone within the Jewish population who lacked such knowledge, thereby ensuring comprehensive adherence and understanding of the sacred statutes throughout the community.
Ezra 7 25 Context
Ezra chapter 7 narrates Ezra's pivotal journey from Babylon to Jerusalem and the extraordinary commission he received from King Artaxerxes. The preceding verses highlight Ezra's unparalleled skill as a scribe, deeply rooted in the Law of Moses, and his personal dedication to studying and practicing God's statutes. This chapter marks a significant transition in the post-exilic narrative, moving from the physical rebuilding of the temple (documented in previous chapters under Zerubbabel) to the crucial spiritual and social reconstruction of the returned Jewish community. Artaxerxes' detailed decree (Ezra 7:12-26) grants Ezra vast authority: to establish a governing system based on the Torah, to provide material support for temple services, and to rigorously enforce divine laws. Verse 25, in particular, defines Ezra's twofold responsibility: to create a judicial framework by appointing judges for those already familiar with God's law and, just as importantly, to instruct those who are ignorant of it. This ensured the comprehensive restoration of religious and civic order for the Jewish people residing across the vast Trans-Euphrates province, manifesting divine providence operating through a pagan ruler to reestablish the Mosaic covenant among the repatriated exiles.
Ezra 7 25 Word analysis
- And you, Ezra: This direct, personal address, using the Aramaic "וְאַנְתְּ עֶזְרָא" (vĕ'antĕ 'ezrā'), specifically designates Ezra as the sole recipient of this significant command and the person charged with its execution. It emphasizes a unique and personal delegation of power.
- according to the wisdom of your God: The Aramaic "כְּחָכְמַת אֱלָהָךְ" (kĕhokmat 'elahak) points to the divine source of Ezra's authority. The king acknowledges that Ezra's competence, skill, and judgment concerning legal and spiritual matters are not inherent human abilities but flow directly from the wisdom imparted by his God. This recognition legitimizes Ezra's future actions within the Persian framework.
- that is in your hand: The phrase "דִּי בִידָךְ" (dî bîyadeḵ) is an Aramaic idiom meaning "at your disposal," "within your power," or "in your possession." It implies that Ezra's divine wisdom is not just an attribute but an actionable resource or authority that he possesses and is empowered to utilize for the task at hand. It denotes executive capacity derived from that wisdom.
- appoint: The imperative Aramaic verb "מַנָּא" (manna') carries a strong sense of command to actively set up, establish, or constitute individuals in positions of authority. It signifies a directive for immediate and concrete action.
- magistrates and judges: The pairing of "דָּיְנִין וְשָׁפְטִין" (daynîn wĕshapṭîn) signifies a comprehensive legal and administrative apparatus. "Daynin" primarily refers to judges of law, those who decide legal cases. "Shaphtin" has a broader connotation, including rulers or administrators responsible for governing and maintaining order beyond strictly judicial duties. Together, they represent a full spectrum of local authority.
- who may judge all the people: This clause, "דִּי יִדְּעִין לְדִינָא לְכָל עַמָּא" (dî yidde'în lĕdînâ lĕḵol 'ammā'), specifies the core function of the appointed officials: to render impartial judgments and ensure justice. "All the people" highlights the universal application of these laws across the entire Jewish population, regardless of social standing, within the geographical boundaries.
- who are in Beyond the River: The specific Aramaic designation "דִּי בַּעֲבַר נַהֲרָה" (dî ba'ăḇar nahărāh) defines the geographical jurisdiction for Ezra's commission. This refers to the Persian satrapy of "Trans-Euphrates," covering areas west of the Euphrates River, which included Judah and surrounding territories. This demarcates the scope of the decree's enforceability.
- all those who know the laws of your God: This identifies the primary group intended for the direct application of justice through the newly appointed judges. "יָדְעֵי דָּתֵי אֱלָהָךְ" (yāḏĕ'ēy dāṯê 'ĕlāhāk) refers to individuals already familiar with, or having access to, the divine statutes of the Torah. "Dathei" (דָּתֵי) refers specifically to the established laws or decrees, affirming their fixed and binding nature.
- and teach: The Aramaic "וּמַנְדְּעִין" (ûmannədĕ'în) is a crucial instruction to actively "make known," "instruct," or "enlighten." This extends Ezra's mission beyond mere legal enforcement to include vital education and spiritual restoration, indicating a pedagogical and pastoral aspect of his authority.
- those who do not know them: This explicit identification, "דִּי לָא יָדְעִין" (dî lā' yāḏĕ'în), points to a significant problem within the post-exilic community: widespread ignorance of God's law, likely due to prolonged exile and assimilation. Ezra's mandate here is corrective, aiming to reintegrate all Jews into the covenant community through education.
Ezra 7 25 Bonus section
The detailed language of the decree, particularly Artaxerxes attributing Ezra's capability to the "wisdom of your God," underscores a divine hand guiding the imperial decree. This implies not mere toleration but a divinely-inspired recognition by a Gentile ruler of the superior wisdom and authority inherent in the Law of the God of Israel. Ezra's mission, spanning both the establishment of judges and the mandate to teach, illustrates the foundational Christian principle that truth must be known to be followed (education), and righteousness must be upheld by fair administration (justice). The geographical specificity of "Beyond the River" signifies God's care for His people even in dispersion, providing them a framework for self-governance and religious identity within a vast foreign empire. This structure allowed for a degree of "cultural insulation" by grounding Jewish communal life in the Torah.
Ezra 7 25 Commentary
Ezra 7:25 is a cornerstone verse, revealing the comprehensive scope of God's providential care for His people, even operating through a pagan king. It establishes Ezra not only as a theological leader but also as a civic and judicial reformer. The dual mandate to appoint judges for those who know the law and to teach those who don't highlights the profound integration of justice and education within the covenant community. It underscores that God's law is not just a punitive measure but a standard for righteous living, requiring both understanding and obedience. This royal decree granted external validity to internal Jewish law, enabling a form of theo-governance under imperial oversight. Ezra's task was to address not only legal disputes but the deeper spiritual malaise of ignorance, aiming for a community fully conversant with and committed to God's Word. This mandate resonates today as the church is called to both maintain order and discipline according to God's Word, and tirelessly teach it to all believers, young and old, to ensure growth and fidelity.