Bible Strands
Ezra 7:14
You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Persian king writes to Ezra, authorizing his journey to Jerusalem with royal officials and resources. This decree occurs during the initial phase of the post-exilic restoration, following the call for volunteers to return.
The words — The text highlights שְׁלִ֔יחַ (she.Li.ach), meaning "[you are] sent," and מַלְכָּ֜/א (mal.Ka/), meaning "king." These terms ground the mission in royal commission rather than voluntary initiative.
The thread — This royal commission echoes the seven counselors of Esther 1:14 and the king's obligation to study the law in Deuteronomy 17:18. It also continues the restoration mandate initiated in Ezra 1:3.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to recognize that religious restoration operates under civil authority yet remains bound to divine instruction. It demands obedience to the written Law as the standard for community 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
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Cross-references
- Esther 1:14 His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
- Deuteronomy 17:18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
- Ezra 1:3 Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
- Ezra 5:8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.
- Ezra 6:12 May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence.
- Ezra 7:15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
- Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.
- Ezra 7:28 and who has shown me favor before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials. And because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me.
- Ezra 8:25 and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God.
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.