Bible Strands
Ezra 7:12
Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Artaxerxes addresses a formal letter to Ezra the priest and scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. This opening precedes a royal decree authorizing Israelite volunteers, priests, and Levites to travel to Jerusalem.
The words — The text uses מֶלֶךְ מַלְכַיָּא (Me.lekh mal.khai.Ya/) to mean "king of kings." It also identifies Ezra as סָפַר דָּתָא (sa.Far da.Ta/), literally "scribe of the Law."
The thread — Daniel 2:37 applies "king of kings" to Nebuchadnezzar, and Ezekiel 26:7 uses the same title for his military campaign. Ezra 4:17 mirrors this epistolary format with another royal reply to Jewish officials.
Why it lands — The verse records Persian imperial authority formally recognizing the Jewish God and his appointed scribe. It requires the reader to accept that written divine instruction functions under and receives protection from earthly governance.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 26:7 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops.
- Daniel 2:37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.
- Ezra 4:17 Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
- 1 Kings 4:24 For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.
- 1 Kings 20:1 Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.
- Ezra 4:10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.
- Isaiah 10:8 “Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
- Daniel 2:47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- 1 Timothy 6:15 which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
- Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”