Ezra 6:10

Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Persian king issues a decree to local administrators, authorizing daily provisions for the Jerusalem temple and permitting the priests to conduct worship. This instruction follows the temple's foundation completion and precedes the Passover celebration.

The words — נִיחוֹחִ֖ין (ni.cho.Chin) literally means "soothing offerings," referring to sacrifices that produce a pleasing aroma. לֶ/אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑/א (le./'e.Lah she.mai.Ya/') translates directly to "to the God of heaven," identifying the deity's supreme domain.

The thread — The directive to pray for civil leadership appears in Jeremiah 29:7 and 1 Timothy 2:1, while the command to execute divine instructions without delay echoes Ezra 7:23. These references establish a consistent biblical pattern of sustaining worship infrastructure and interceding for governing authorities.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that proper worship includes intercession for those in political power. It demands practical provision for religious practice and a disciplined commitment to maintaining communal faith.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

דִּֽי־di-that לֶהֱוֹ֧ןle.he.Vonthey will be מְהַקְרְבִ֛יןme.hak.re.Vinoffering נִיחוֹחִ֖יןni.cho.Chinsoothing offerings לֶאֱלָ֣הּle./'e.Lahto/ [the] God of שְׁמַיָּ֑אshe.mai.Ya/'heavens/ the וּמְצַלַּ֕יִןu./me.tza.La.yinand/ praying לְחַיֵּ֥יle./chai.Yeifor/ [the] life<s> of מַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka/'king/ the וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃u./ve.No./hiand/ sons/ his

King James Version

That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Cross-references

Ezra 7:23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?
Jeremiah 29:7 Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—
Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
Leviticus 1:9 The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Leviticus 1:13 The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.