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Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Brenton's Septuagint

Ezra 7:12

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - King;   Temple;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Medo-Persian Kingdom;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Language;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Artaxerxes;   Ezra;   Malachi;   Persia;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Priest, Christ as;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Chaldee Language;   Scribes;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Artaxerxes;   Chaldaea;   Ezra;   Ezra, the Book of;   Persia;   Pethahiah;   Scribes;   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;   Perfect;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Confiscation and Forfeiture;   Ezra the Scribe;   Shallum;  

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.
Easy-to-Read Version
From King Artaxerxes, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the law of the God of heaven: Greetings!
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.
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 And this is the copy of the order which Arthasastha gave to Esdras the priest, the scribe of the book of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his ordinances to Israel. 12 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. 13 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. 14 One has been sent from the king and the seven councillors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem, according to the law of their God that is in thine hand. 15 And for the house of the Lord there have been sent silver and gold, which the king and the councillors have freely given to the God of Israel, who dwells in Jerusalem. 16 And all the silver and gold, whatsoever thou shalt find in all the land of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and the priests that offer freely for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. 17 And as for every one that arrives there, speedily order him by this letter to bring calves, rams, lambs, and their meat-offerings, and their drink-offerings; and thou shalt offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever it shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do as it is pleasing to your God. 19 And deliver the vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of God, before God in Jerusalem. 20 And as to the rest of the need of the house of thy God, thou shalt give from the king’s treasure-houses,

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
For yet seven days having passed I bring rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will blot out every offspring which I have made from the face of all the earth.
Genesis 7:17
And the flood was upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and the water abounded greatly and bore up the ark, and it was lifted on high from off the earth.
Exodus 24:18
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and went up to the mountain, and was there in the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Deuteronomy 9:9
when I went up into the mountain to receive the tables of stone, the tables of the covenant, which the Lord made with you, and I was in the mountain forty days and forty nights, I ate no bread and drank no water.
Deuteronomy 9:18
And I made my petition before the Lord as also at the first forty days and forty nights: I ate no bread and drank no water, on account of all your sins which ye sinned in doing evil before the Lord God to provoke him.
Deuteronomy 10:10
And I remained in the mount forty days and forty nights: and the Lord heard me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy you.
1 Kings 19:8
And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights to mount Choreb.

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."


 
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