Bible Strands
Ezra 7:21
I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Artaxerxes addresses the royal treasurers located west of the Euphrates during the post-exilic restoration. He issues a command to fund Ezra’s mission to supply materials for the house of God.
The words — The king issues a decree (טְעֵם, te‘em) personally (אֲנָה, ‘anah) to the treasurers (גִּזַּבְרַיָּא, gizzabrāyā). These terms establish the binding administrative authority behind the financial mandate.
The thread — The king’s jurisdiction over the region west of the Euphrates echoes earlier correspondence in Ezra 4:16 and 4:20 regarding royal dominion. Ezra’s identity as a scribe skilled in the Law (Ezra 7:6) connects this decree to the earlier provision for additional supplies in Ezra 7:20.
Why it lands — The text states that any requirement Ezra may make must be provided promptly by royal officials. It requires a reader to acknowledge that institutional resources must be mobilized immediately to support the work of the Law.
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
And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
Cross-references
- Ezra 4:16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
- Ezra 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
- Ezra 4:20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
- Ezra 6:6 Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
- Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.