Ezra 7:10-12

7:10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself ¹  to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching ²  its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

7:11 What follows ³  is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. ⁴  Ezra was ⁵  a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:

7:12 ⁶ “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven:

[7:10]  ¹ tn Heb “established his heart.”

[7:10]  ² tn Heb “to do and to teach.” The expression may be a hendiadys, in which case it would have the sense of “effectively teaching.”

[7:11]  ³ tn Heb “this.”

[7:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.

[7:11]  ⁵ tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.

[7:12]  ⁶ sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.