Ezra 7 · Verse 12

Ezra 7:12

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.
Ezra 7:12, King James Version

Ezra 7:12 in other translations

BSBArtaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
WEBArtaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now
ASVArtaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.
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:
DARBYArtaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an accomplished scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, and so forth.
BBEArtaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace;
WebsterArtaxerxes, king of kings, To 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?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Artaxerxes, king of kings--That title might have been assumed as, with literal truth, applicable to him, since many of the tributary princes of his empire still retained the name and authority of kings. But it was a probably a mere Orientalism, denoting a great and powerful prince, as the heaven of heavens signified the highest heaven, and vanity of vanities, the greatest vanity. This vainglorious title was assumed by the kings of Assyria, from whom it passed to the sovereigns of Persia. unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven--The appointment of Ezra to this influential mission was of the highest importance to the Hebrew people, as a large proportion of them were become, in a great measure, strangers both to the language and the institutions of their forefathers.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings - This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezr 7:26, is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language. This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: Ardsheer shahinshah, or padshah, "Ardsheer, king of kings;" "great or supreme king, or emperor."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezra 7:11-26

The liberality of heathen kings to support the worship of God, reproached the conduct of many kings of Judah, and will rise up in judgment against the covetousness of wealthy professed Christians, who will not promote the cause of God. But the weapons of Christian ministers are not carnal. Faithful preaching, holy lives, fervent prayers, and patient suffering when called to it, are the means to bring men into…

Read the full comment on Ezra 7:11-26 →

Ezra 7:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'ArtaxerxesH783
מֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekh[the] king ofH4430
מַלְכַיָּ֑אmal.khai.Ya'<the> kingsH4430
לְעֶזְרָ֣אle.'ez.Ra'to EzraH5831
כָ֠הֲנָאKha.ha.na'priest theH3549
סָפַ֨רsa.Far[the] scribe ofH5613
דָּתָ֜אda.Ta'law theH1882
דִּֽי\־di-ofH1768
אֱלָ֧הּ'e.Lah[the] God ofH426
שְׁמַיָּ֛אshe.mai.Ya'heavens theH8065
גְּמִ֖ירge.MirperfectH1585
וּכְעֶֽנֶת\׃u.khe.'E.netand nowH3706

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezra 7:12

  • Ezekiel 26:7

    For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

  • Daniel 2:37

    Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

  • Ezra 4:17

    Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

  • Daniel 2:47

    The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

  • Isaiah 10:8

    For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

  • 1 Kings 4:24

    For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

  • 1 Kings 20:1

    And Ben–hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

  • Ezra 4:10-11

    And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

  • Revelation 19:16

    And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

  • Revelation 17:14

    These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

  • 1 Timothy 6:15

    Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Artaxerxes.The title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: {Ardsheer shahinshah,} or {padshah,} "Ardsheer, king of kings," i.e., great or supreme king or emperor.
1Ki 4:24; 20:1; Isa 10:8; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37,47; 1Ti 6:15; Re 17:14
Re 19:16
unto Ezra, etc. or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe ofthe law of the God of heaven, peace, etc. and at such a time.
4:10,11,17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezra 7:11

    Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.

  • Ezra 7:12

    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.

  • Ezra 7:13

    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.

Read all of Ezra 7

Ezra 7:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Artajerjes, rey de los reyes, á Esdras sacerdote, escriba perfecto de la ley del Dios del cielo: Salud, etc.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Artaxerxès, roi des rois, à Esdras, sacrificateur, scribe accompli de la loi du Dieu des cieux, etc.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Artasasta, König der Könige, Esra, dem Priester, dem vollkommenen Schriftgelehrten im Gesetz des Gottes des Himmels, und so weiter.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Artaxerxes rex regum Esdræ sacerdoti scribæ legis Dei cæli doctissimo, salutem.