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?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Artaxerxes issues a royal command to Ezra regarding the temple restoration. The king orders that all provisions for God's house be executed promptly to prevent divine wrath from striking his kingdom and lineage.

The words — The Aramaic verb יִתְעֲבֵד (yit.'a.Ved) translates literally as "let it be done," modified by אַדְרַזְדָּא ('ad.raz.Da) meaning "exactly" or "diligently." These terms frame the king's directive as a binding administrative order.

The thread — The requirement to execute heavenly decrees aligns with the obedience mandate in Psalms 119:4 and the earlier temple restoration order in Ezra 6:10. It directly follows the king's prior authorization for volunteers to return in Ezra 7:13.

Why it lands — The verse explicitly commands immediate and precise execution of God's instructions to safeguard the ruler's political standing. It requires readers to treat divine mandates as urgent administrative priorities rather than optional religious suggestions.

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

כָּל־kol-all דִּ֗יDithat מִן־min-[is] according to טַ֙עַם֙ta.'am[the] decree of אֱלָ֣הּ'e.Lah[the] God of שְׁמַיָּ֔אshe.mai.Ya/'heavens/ the יִתְעֲבֵד֙yit.'a.Vedlet it be done אַדְרַזְדָּ֔א'ad.raz.Da'exactly לְבֵ֖יתle./Veitfor/ [the] house of אֱלָ֣הּ'e.Lah[the] God of שְׁמַיָּ֑אshe.mai.Ya/'heavens/ the דִּֽי־di-that לְמָ֤הle./Mah<to>/ why?לֶֽהֱוֵא֙le.he.Ve'will it be קְצַ֔ףke.Tzafanger עַל־'al-on מַלְכ֥וּתmal.Khut[the] kingdom of מַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka/'king/ the וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃u./ve.No./hiand/ sons/ his

King James Version

Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

Cross-references

Psalms 119:4 You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently.
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.
Ezra 7:13 I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:18 You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.
Zechariah 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.