The Meaning of Ezra 7:1 Explained

Ezra 7:1

KJV: Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

YLT: And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

Darby: And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkijah,

ASV: Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now after  these things,  in the reign  of Artaxerxes  king  of Persia,  Ezra  the son  of Seraiah,  the son  of Azariah,  the son  of Hilkiah, 

What does Ezra 7:1 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 7:1 mean?

And after things these in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia Ezra son of Seraiah the son of Azariah of Hilkiah
וְאַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּמַלְכ֖וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָ֑ס עֶזְרָא֙ בֶּן־ שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־ עֲזַרְיָ֖ה חִלְקִיָּֽה

וְאַחַר֙  And  after 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הַדְּבָרִ֣ים  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בְּמַלְכ֖וּת  in  the  reign 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מַלְכוּת  
Sense: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power.
אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא  of  Artaxerxes 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא 
Sense: son and successor of Xerxes as emperor of Persia, 465–424 BC.
מֶֽלֶךְ־  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
פָּרָ֑ס  of  Persia 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פָּרַס  
Sense: the empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south.
עֶזְרָא֙  Ezra 
Parse: 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.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שְׂרָיָ֔ה  of  Seraiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׂרָיָה 
Sense: the scribe or secretary of David.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עֲזַרְיָ֖ה  of  Azariah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲזַרְיָה 
Sense: son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also ‘Uzziah’.
חִלְקִיָּֽה  of  Hilkiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִלְקִיָּה 
Sense: father of Eliakim, an officer of Hezekiah.