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.

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.