Ezra 5:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

Complete Jewish Bible:

they sent him a letter in which it was written: "To Daryavesh the king, "Complete shalom!"

Berean Standard Bible:

The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.

American Standard Version:

they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

They sent^{H7972} a letter^{H6600} unto^{H5922} him, wherein^{H1459} was written^{H3790} thus^{H1836}; Unto Darius^{H1868} the king^{H4430}, all^{H3606} peace^{H8001}.

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Commentary for Ezra 5:7

Ezra 5:7 is a part of the biblical narrative that deals with the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The verse specifically refers to a letter sent by the provincial governor of the region, Tattenai, to King Darius of Persia. This communication is prompted by the resumption of the Temple construction by the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel.

The historical context of this verse is set in the late 6th century BCE, during the reign of Darius the Great, when the Persian Empire was the dominant power in the region. The Jewish people, having been allowed to return to their homeland by the decree of Cyrus the Great, were facing opposition from local officials and populations who were concerned about the implications of a rebuilt Jewish Temple and the potential for rebellion against Persian rule.

In Ezra 5:7, the letter begins with a standard ancient Near Eastern salutation, "Unto Darius the king, all peace," which is a customary way of opening a letter with greetings and a wish for the king's well-being. This formal greeting would have been expected in correspondence with a king and served to establish a respectful tone. The themes present in this verse include governance and administrative communication within the Persian Empire, the importance of religious freedom and identity for the Jewish people, and the tension between local authorities and imperial policies. The verse sets the stage for the subsequent inquiry into the legitimacy of the Jewish community's efforts to rebuild their temple, which is a central theme in the book of Ezra, emphasizing divine providence and the role of foreign kings in facilitating the return of the Jews to their religious practices and national life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7972
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁלַח
   Transliteration: shᵉlach
   Pronunciation: shel-akh'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁלַח; {to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)}; put, send.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6600
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פִּתְגָּם
   Transliteration: pithgâm
   Pronunciation: pith-gawm'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to פִּתְגָּם; a word, answer, letter or decree; answer, letter, matter, word.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5922
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַל
   Transliteration: ʻal
   Pronunciation: al
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עַל; {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications}; about, against, concerning, for, (there-) fore, from, in, [idiom] more, of, (there-, up-) on, (in-) to, [phrase] why with.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1459
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גַּו
   Transliteration: gav
   Pronunciation: gav
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to גֵּו; the middle; midst, same, there-(where-) in.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3790
   There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּתַב
   Transliteration: kᵉthab
   Pronunciation: keth-ab'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to כָּתַב; {to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)}; write(-ten).
   
6. Strong's Number: H1836
   There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֵּן
   Transliteration: dên
   Pronunciation: dane
   Description: (Aramaic) an orthographical variation of דֵּךְ; this; (afore-) time, [phrase] after this manner, here (-after), one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), [phrase] thus, where(-fore), which.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1868
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ
   Transliteration: Dârᵉyâvêsh
   Pronunciation: daw-reh-yaw-vaysh'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ; {Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings}; Darius.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4430
   There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מֶלֶךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3606
   There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֹּל
   Transliteration: kôl
   Pronunciation: kole
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to כֹּל; {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}; all, any, + (forasmuch) as, + be-(for this) cause, every, + no (manner, -ne), + there (where) -fore, + though, what (where, who) -soever, (the) whole.
   
10. Strong's Number: H8001
    There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁלָם
    Transliteration: shᵉlâm
    Pronunciation: shel-awm'
    Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁלוֹם; prosperity; peace.