The Meaning of Ezra 7:13 Explained

Ezra 7:13

KJV: I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

YLT: By me hath been made a decree that every one who is willing, in my kingdom, of the people of Israel and of its priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem with thee, doth go;

Darby: I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are disposed to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

ASV: I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I  make  a decree,  that all  they of  the people  of Israel,  and [of] his priests  and Levites,  in my realm,  which are minded of their own freewill  to go up  to Jerusalem,  go  with thee. 

What does Ezra 7:13 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 7:13 mean?

I issue a decree that all those who volunteer in my realm of people the of Israel and the priests and Levites to go up to Jerusalem with you may go
מִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י כָל־ מִתְנַדַּ֣ב בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩ מִן־ עַמָּ֨ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִי וְלֵוָיֵ֗א לִמְהָ֧ךְ לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם עִמָּ֖ךְ יְהָֽךְ

שִׂ֣ים  issue 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שִׂים  
Sense: to set, make, appoint.
טְעֵם֒  a  decree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טְעֵם  
Sense: decree, taste, judgment, command.
דִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
מִתְנַדַּ֣ב  those  who  volunteer 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נְדַב 
Sense: to volunteer, offer freely.
בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩  in  my  realm 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
עַמָּ֨ה  people  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: עַם  
Sense: people.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִי  and  the  priests 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּהֵן  
Sense: priest.
וְלֵוָיֵ֗א  and  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוָי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
לִמְהָ֧ךְ  to  go  up 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הוּךְ  
Sense: (P’al) to go, come, walk, be brought.
לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם  to  Jerusalem 
Parse: 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.
עִמָּ֖ךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
יְהָֽךְ  may  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּךְ  
Sense: (P’al) to go, come, walk, be brought.