The Meaning of Ezra 7:12 Explained

Ezra 7:12

KJV: 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.

YLT: 'Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and at such a time:

Darby: Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an accomplished scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, and so forth.

ASV: Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ezra 7:12 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 7:12 mean?

Artaxerxes king of kings to Ezra priest the a scribe of Law the of God of heaven the Perfect [peace] so forth
אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑א לְעֶזְרָ֣א כָ֠הֲנָא סָפַ֨ר דָּתָ֜א דִּֽי־ אֱלָ֧הּ שְׁמַיָּ֛א גְּמִ֖יר וּכְעֶֽנֶת

אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא  Artaxerxes 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא 
Sense: son and successor of Xerxes as emperor of Persia, 465–424 BC.
מֶ֖לֶךְ  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
מַלְכַיָּ֑א  of  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
לְעֶזְרָ֣א  to  Ezra 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶזְרָא  
Sense: the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem; co-worker with Nehemiah.
כָ֠הֲנָא  priest  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: כָּהֵן  
Sense: priest.
סָפַ֨ר  a  scribe 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָפַר  
Sense: scribe, secretary.
דָּתָ֜א  of  Law  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: דָּת  
Sense: decree, law.
אֱלָ֧הּ  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
שְׁמַיָּ֛א  of  heaven  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural determinate
Root: שְׁמַיִן  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
גְּמִ֖יר  Perfect  [peace] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: גְּמַר  
Sense: to complete.
וּכְעֶֽנֶת  so  forth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כְּעֶנֶת 
Sense: now, and now.