Ezra 7:12

Easy-to-Read Version

From King Artaxerxes, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the law of the God of heaven: Greetings!

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of the heavens:

Hebrew Names Version
Artachshasta, king of kings, to Ezra the Kohen, the Sofer of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

King James Version
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.

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

New Century Version
From Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven. Greetings.

New English Translation
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven:

Amplified Bible
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfect peace (greetings). And now

New American Standard Bible
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now

World English Bible
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Artahshashte King of Kings to Ezra the Priest and perfite scribe of the Lawe of the God of heauen, and to Cheeneth.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now—

Berean Standard Bible
Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.

Contemporary English Version
Greetings from the great King Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest and expert in the teachings of the God of heaven.

Complete Jewish Bible
"From: Artach'shashta, king of kings "To: ‘Ezra the cohen, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, etc.: "Herewith

Darby Translation
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an accomplished scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, and so forth.

George Lamsa Translation
Artakhshisht, king of kings, to Ezra the priest and scribe, learned in the law of the God of heaven, peace.

Good News Translation
"From Emperor Artaxerxes to the priest Ezra, scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven.

Lexham English Bible
"Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of the heavens. Peace. And now

Literal Translation
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven, perfect peace , and now:

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vnto E?dras the prest and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heauen, peace and salutacion.

American Standard Version
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

Bible in Basic English
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Artaxerxes a king of kinges, vnto Esdras the priest and scribe of the law of the God of heauen, peace and salutation.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
'Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, and so forth. And now

King James Version (1611)
Artaxerxes king of kings, Unto Ezra the Priest, a Scribe of the Law of the God of heauen, Perfect peace, and at such a time.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Arthasastha, king of kings, to Esdras, the scribe of the law of the Lord God of heaven, Let the order and the answer be accomplished.

English Revised Version
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Artaxerses, kyng of kyngis, desirith helthe to Esdras, the preest, moost wijs writere of the lawe of God of heuene.

Update Bible Version
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

Webster's Bible Translation
Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and at such a time.

New King James Version
Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:12-26 is Aramaic.">[fn] king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth. [fn]

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

New Life Bible
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the religious leader, the writer who knows the Law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now

New Revised Standard
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Artaxerxes, king of kings, Unto Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of the heavens - To despatch and so forth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Artaxerxes king of kings to Esdras the priest, the most learned scribe of the law of the God of heaven, greeting.

Revised Standard Version
"Ar-ta-xerx'es, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven. And now

Young's Literal Translation
`Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and at such a time:

THE MESSAGE
Artaxerxes, King of Kings, to Ezra the priest, a scholar of the Teaching of the God-of-Heaven. Peace. I hereby decree that any of the people of Israel living in my kingdom who want to go to Jerusalem, including their priests and Levites, may go with you. You are being sent by the king and his seven advisors to carry out an investigation of Judah and Jerusalem in relation to the Teaching of your God that you are carrying with you. You are also authorized to take the silver and gold that the king and his advisors are giving for the God of Israel, whose residence is in Jerusalem, along with all the silver and gold that has been collected from the generously donated offerings all over Babylon, including that from the people and the priests, for The Temple of their God in Jerusalem. Use this money carefully to buy bulls, rams, lambs, and the ingredients for Grain-Offerings and Drink-Offerings and then offer them on the Altar of The Temple of your God in Jerusalem. You are free to use whatever is left over from the silver and gold for what you and your brothers decide is in keeping with the will of your God. Deliver to the God of Jerusalem the vessels given to you for the services of worship in The Temple of your God. Whatever else you need for The Temple of your God you may pay for out of the royal bank.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now

Contextual Overview

¹¹ Ezra was a priest and teacher. He knew much about the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the teacher: ¹² From King Artaxerxes, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the law of the God of heaven: Greetings! ¹³ I give this order: Any of the Israelites living in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who want to go with you to Jerusalem, may go. ¹⁴ I and my seven advisors send you to Judah and Jerusalem. Go and see how your people are doing in obeying the law of your God. You have that law with you. ¹⁵ I and my advisors are giving gold and silver to the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. You must take this gold and silver with you. ¹⁶ You must also go through all the provinces of Babylonia. Collect the gifts from your people, from the priests, and from the Levites. The gifts are for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ Use this money to buy bulls, rams, and male lambs. Buy the grain offerings and drink offerings that go with these sacrifices. Then sacrifice them on the altar in the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ Then you and the other Jews may spend the silver and gold left over any way you want to. Use it in a way that is pleasing to your God. ¹⁹ Take all these things to the God of Jerusalem. They are for the worship in the Temple of your God. ²⁰ And you may get any other things that you need for the Temple of your God. Use the money in the king's treasury to buy anything you need.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Artaxerxes: The title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: Ardsheer shahinshah, or padshah, "Ardsheer, king of kings," i.e., great or supreme king or emperor. 1 Kings 4:24, 1 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 10:8, Ezekiel 26:7, Daniel 2:37, Daniel 2:47, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16

unto Ezra: etc. or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace, etc. and at such a time. Ezra 4:10, Ezra 4:11, Ezra 4:17

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:28 - the king of Assyria Ezra 7:1 - Artaxerxes Ezra 7:6 - a ready Ezra 7:7 - Artaxerxes Ezra 7:21 - Artaxerxes Isaiah 13:3 - them that Isaiah 60:10 - their kings Daniel 6:26 - make Jonah 1:9 - the God Matthew 2:4 - scribes Acts 18:24 - mighty Revelation 16:11 - the God

Cross-References

Genesis 7:4
Seven days from now, I will send much rain on the earth. It will rain for 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe everything off the face of the earth. I will destroy everything I made."

Genesis 7:17
Water flooded the earth for 40 days. The water began rising and lifted the boat off the ground.

Exodus 24:18
Then Moses went higher up the mountain into the cloud. He was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.

Deuteronomy 9:9
I went up the mountain to get the stone tablets. The agreement that the Lord made with you was written on those stones. I stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights. I did not eat any food or drink any water.

Deuteronomy 9:18
Then I bowed down before the Lord with my face to the ground for 40 days and 40 nights, as I did before. I did not eat any food or drink any water. I did this because you had sinned so badly. You did the thing that is evil to the Lord , and you made him angry.

Deuteronomy 10:10
"I stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights, like the first time. The Lord also listened to me at that time. He decided not to destroy you.

1 Kings 19:8
So Elijah got up. He ate and drank and felt strong. Then Elijah walked for 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.

Matthew 4:2
Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Artaxerxes, king of kings,.... Having many kings and kingdoms subject and tributary to him; for this was not merely a proud haughty title which the eastern kings p assumed, particularly the Persians; for after Cyrus they were so in fact, who took this title also, and had it put on his sepulchral monument,

"Here I lie, Cyrus, king of kings q;''

this title was given to Grecian kings, particularly Agamemnon is called king of kings r, he being general at the siege of Troy, under whom the rest of the kings fought; if this was Darius Hystaspis, of him Cyrus dreamed that he had wings on his shoulders, with one he covered Asia, and with the other Europe s:

unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven; of which titles see Ezra 7:11:

perfect [peace], and at such a time; the word "perfect" belongs to Ezra's title as a scribe, signifying that he was a most learned and complete scribe or teacher of the law of God; "peace" is not in the text, and the phrase "at such a time" respects the date of the letter, though not expressed, or is only an "et cetera", Ezra 7:11- :.

p See the Universal History, vol. 5. p. 16, 137. & vol. 11. p. 7, 8. margin, & p. 66. q Strabo, Geograph. l. 15. p. 502. r Vell. Patercul. Hist. Roman. l. 1. in initio. s Herodot. Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 209.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The title, “king of kings,” is assumed by almost all the persian monarchs in their inscriptions.

Perfect peace - “Peace” is not in the original, and the word translated “perfect” occurs only in this place. Some prefer to take it as an adjective descriptive of Ezra (see margin); others (Septuagint) as the opening word of the first paragraph of the letter, and give it the meaning, “it is completed.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. Artaxerxes, king of kings — This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezra 7:12-26, is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language.

This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: [Persian] Ardsheer shahinshah, or [Persian] padshah, "Ardsheer, king of kings;" "great or supreme king, or emperor."