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Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Legacy Standard Bible

Ezra 7:13

I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who freely offer to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Liberality;   Temple;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ezra;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Language;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Artaxerxes;   Ezra;   Malachi;   Persia;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Decrees;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Chaldee Language;   Exile;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chaldaea;   Ezra, the Book of;   Persia;   Pethahiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Aramaic;   Artaxerxes;   Ezra, Book of;   Hebrew;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bible;   Ezra;   Ezra, Book of;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Language of Christ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Aramaic;   Artaxerxes ;   Bible,;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ezra;   Persia;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bi'ble;   Per'sia;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Accursed;   Aramaic Language;   Bible, the;   Ezra-Nehemiah;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Confiscation and Forfeiture;   Ezra the Scribe;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I issue a decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
Hebrew Names Version
I make a decree, that all those of the people of Yisra'el, and their Kohanim and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Yerushalayim, go with you.
King James Version
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
English Standard Version
I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
New Century Version
Now I give this order: Any Israelite in my kingdom who wishes may go with you to Jerusalem, including priests and Levites.
New English Translation
I have now issued a decree that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel—even the priests and Levites—who wishes to do so may go up with you to Jerusalem.
Amplified Bible
I have issued a decree that all of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
New American Standard Bible
I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
World English Bible
I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
I haue giuen commaundement, that euery one, that is willing in my kingdome of the people of Israel, and of the Priestes, and Leuites to goe to Ierusalem with thee, shall goe.
Berean Standard Bible
I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.
Contemporary English Version
Any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom may go with you to Jerusalem if they want to. My seven advisors and I agree that you may go to Jerusalem and Judah to find out if the laws of your God are being obeyed.
Complete Jewish Bible
I decree that everyone in my realm who belongs to the people of Isra'el, including their cohanim and L'vi'im, who, of his own free will, chooses to go with you to Yerushalayim, should go.
Darby Translation
I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are disposed to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
I have issued a decree and made a statute that any one of the people of Israel and of the priests and Levites in my realm who wishes to go up to Jerusalem with you may go.
Good News Translation
"I command that throughout my empire all the Israelite people, priests, and Levites that so desire be permitted to go with you to Jerusalem.
Lexham English Bible
I issue forth a decree that any of the people of Israel, their priests, or their Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem may go with you.
Literal Translation
From me was made a decree that any one of the people of Israel, and their priests and Levites in my kingdom who volunteers to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I haue commaunded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the prestes and Leuites in my realme, which are mynded of their awne good wyll to go vp to Ierusalem, that they go with the,
American Standard Version
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Bible in Basic English
And now it is my order that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and Levites in my kingdom, who are ready and have a desire to go to Jerusalem, are to go with you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
I haue commaunded that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priestes and Leuites in my realme, which are minded of their owne good wyll to go vp to Hierusalem, go with thee:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go with thee to Jerusalem, go.
King James Version (1611)
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his Priests, and Leuites in my Realme, which are minded of their owne free-will to goe vp to Ierusalem, goe with thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
A decree is made by me, that every one who is willing in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem, be permitted to go with thee.
English Revised Version
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It is demyd of me, that whom euer it plesith in my rewme of the puple of Israel, and of hise preestis, and dekenes, to go in to Jerusalem, go he with thee.
Update Bible Version
I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
Webster's Bible Translation
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, who are disposed of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
New King James Version
I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.
New Living Translation
"I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you.
New Life Bible
I let it be known that if there are any people of Israel, religious leaders or Levites in my nation who are willing to go to Jerusalem, they may go with you.
New Revised Standard
I decree that any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
From me, is issued an edict, that, every one in my kingdom, of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, who is minded of his own freewill to go to Jerusalem, with thee, let him go.
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is decreed by me, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priests and of the Levites in my realm, that are minded to go into Jerusalem, should go with thee.
Revised Standard Version
I make a decree that any one of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
Young's Literal Translation
By me hath been made a decree that every one who is willing, in my kingdom, of the people of Israel and of its priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem with thee, doth go;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

Contextual Overview

11Now this is the copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of Yahweh and His statutes to Israel: 12"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now— 13I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who freely offer to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14Forasmuch as you are sent from before the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16and all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17with this money, therefore, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and bring them near to the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. 19Also the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20The rest of the needs for the house of your God, which may fall upon you to provide, provide for it from the royal treasury.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I make: Ezra 5:13, Ezra 6:1, 2 Chronicles 30:5, Esther 3:15, Esther 9:14, Psalms 148:6

minded: Ezra 1:3, Psalms 110:3, Philippians 2:13, Revelation 22:17

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 36:23 - Who is there Ezra 7:21 - Artaxerxes Ezra 7:23 - Whatsoever is commanded Ezra 8:1 - them that went up Psalms 68:29 - shall Daniel 6:26 - make Jonah 1:9 - the God

Cross-References

Genesis 5:32
And Noah was 500 years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:10
And Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:18
But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
Genesis 7:1
Then Yahweh said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this generation.
Genesis 7:2
You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean, two, a male and his female;
Genesis 7:4
For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made."
Genesis 7:7
Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood.
Genesis 7:9
by twos they came to Noah into the ark, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:18
And the water prevailed and multiplied greatly upon the earth, and the ark went on the surface of the water.
Genesis 7:19
And the water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I make a decree,.... Which, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, when signed, might not be changed, Daniel 6:8,

that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm; who remained there, and took not the benefit of the edict of Cyrus, which gave them leave to go; but neglecting the opportunity, it seems as if they could not now go out of the realm without a fresh grant, which is hereby given:

which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee; this decree did not oblige them to go whether they would or not; for they might, notwithstanding this, continue if they pleased; it only gave them leave to make use of the present opportunity of going along with Ezra, if they chose it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. Their own free-will — None shall be forced either to go or to stay. He who loves his God will avail himself of this favourable opportunity.


 
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