The Meaning of Ezra 7:14 Explained

Ezra 7:14

KJV: Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

YLT: because that from the king and his seven counsellors thou art sent, to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem, with the law of God that is in thy hand,

Darby: Because thou art sent by the king, and by his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;

ASV: Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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; 

What does Ezra 7:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 7:1-18 - A Missionary Journey
An interval of sixty years intervened between the events of Ezra 6:1-22 and Ezra 7:1-28, and in that time the history recorded in the book of Esther took place. This chapter is full of helpful thoughts. Note the description of Ezra's character-A ready scribe- Ezra 7:6. He not only knew the Law, but he set his heart to seek and do, Ezra 7:10. The only way to understand Scripture is to be prepared to do it. What a contrast to Matthew 23:3! Let us not resemble the finger-post, which directs the traveler, but stirs not a step along the road it points. Note the secret of Ezra's success, the good hand of God. This is a characteristic phrase of Ezra and Nehemiah. That hand answers prayer, Ezra 7:6; speeds our way, as much in railway trains as in caravans, Ezra 7:9; and strengthens us for service, Ezra 7:28. The strong, tender hand of God is laid on our hands, as a father's on those of the son learning to draw a bow, Genesis 49:24. And when God's hand is on us, it is also on others, preparing them to cooperate. When God needs an instrument, He will come to men of Ezra's spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 7

1  Ezra goes up to Jerusalem
11  The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra
27  Ezra blesses God for this favor

What do the individual words in Ezra 7:14 mean?

All according to and whereas of by king the and seven his counselors you are being sent to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God which [is] in your hand
כָּל־ קֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ מִן־ קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜א וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ לְבַקָּרָ֥א עַל־ יְה֖וּד וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּדָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖ךְ דִּ֥י בִידָֽךְ

קֳבֵ֗ל  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: קֳבֵל  
Sense: front prep.
דִּי֩  and  whereas 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
מַלְכָּ֜א  king  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת  and  seven 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שְׁבַע  
Sense: seven.
יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙  his  counselors 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יְעַט 
Sense: (Ithpael) to advise, counsel, take counsel.
שְׁלִ֔יחַ  you  are  being  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: שְׁלַח  
Sense: to send.
לְבַקָּרָ֥א  to  inquire 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: בְּקַר  
Sense: to seek, enquire.
עַל־  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל  
Sense: upon, over, on account of, above, to, against.
יְה֖וּד  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּד  
Sense: Judah—the territory of the tribe of Judah.
וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם  and  Jerusalem 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשְׁלֶם  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
בְּדָ֥ת  with  regard  to  the  Law 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דָּת  
Sense: decree, law.
אֱלָהָ֖ךְ  of  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
דִּ֥י  which  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
בִידָֽךְ  in  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יַד  
Sense: hand.