Ezra 7:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I decree that everyone in my realm who belongs to the people of Isra'el, including their cohanim and L'vi'im, who, of his own free will, chooses to go with you to Yerushalayim, should go.

Berean Standard Bible:

I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.

American Standard Version:

I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

I^{H4481} make^{H7761} a decree^{H2942}, that all^{H3606} they of^{H4481} the people^{H5972} of Israel^{H3479}, and of his priests^{H3549} and Levites^{H3879}, in my realm^{H4437}, which are minded of their own freewill^{H5069} to go up^{H1946} to Jerusalem^{H3390}, go^{H1946} with thee^{H5974}.

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Commentary for Ezra 7:13

Ezra 7:13 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the history of the Jewish people during the Persian period. The speaker in this verse is Artaxerxes, a king of Persia, who is issuing a decree to allow the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem. This decree is particularly significant because it demonstrates the sovereign's support for the repatriation of the Jews to their homeland, which had been devastated and depopulated during the Babylonian conquest.

The historical context of this verse is the reign of Artaxerxes I (465–424 BCE), during which the events described in the Book of Ezra take place. The king's decree is a response to the petition of Ezra, a scribe and priest who is deeply concerned with the religious and social welfare of his people. Ezra's mission is to teach the laws of God to the people in Judah and to lead a group of returnees back to Jerusalem to reestablish the Jewish community there according to the Torah.

The themes present in this verse include divine providence, as the Persian king's decree is seen as part of God's plan to restore His people to their land; the importance of religious identity and autonomy, as the Jews are given the freedom to return and practice their religion; and the concept of freewill, as the king specifies that those who are "minded of their own freewill" are allowed to go. This indicates that the return was not forced, but rather a voluntary migration of those who were committed to rebuilding their nation and religious life in Jerusalem.

In summary, Ezra 7:13 reflects a moment of royal authorization and divine sanction for the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem. It underscores themes of religious freedom, the sovereignty of God over earthly rulers, and the voluntary nature of the Jews' participation in the restoration of their homeland. This verse is a testament to the enduring faith and resilience of the Jewish people in the face of displacement and their ongoing commitment to their religious heritage and national identity.

*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: H4481
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִן
   Transliteration: min
   Pronunciation: min
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מִן; {properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of}; according, after, [phrase] because, [phrase] before, by, for, from, [idiom] him, [idiom] more than, (out) of, part, since, [idiom] these, to, upon, [phrase] when.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7761
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to שׂוּם; {to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)}; [phrase] command, give, lay, make, [phrase] name, [phrase] regard, set.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2942
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טְעֵם
   Transliteration: ṭᵉʻêm
   Pronunciation: teh-ame'
   Description: (Aramaic) from טְעַם, and equivalent to טַעַם; properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively); [phrase] chancellor, [phrase] command, commandment, decree, [phrase] regard, taste, wisdom.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5972
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עַם; {a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}; people.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3479
   There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to יִשְׂרָאֵל; {Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity}; Israel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3549
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּהֵן
   Transliteration: kâhên
   Pronunciation: kaw-hane'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to כֹּהֵן; {one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)}; priest.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3879
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵוִי
   Transliteration: Lêvîy
   Pronunciation: lay-vee'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to לִוְיָה; {something attached, i.e. a wreath}; Levite.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4437
   There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַלְכוּ
   Transliteration: malkûw
   Pronunciation: mal-koo'
   Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מַלְכוּת; dominion (abstractly or concretely); kingdom, kingly, realm, reign.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5069
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נְדַב
    Transliteration: nᵉdab
    Pronunciation: ned-ab'
    Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to נָדַב; be (or give) liberal(-ly); (be minded of...own) freewill (offering), offer freely (willingly).
    
11. Strong's Number: H1946
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הוּךְ
    Transliteration: hûwk
    Pronunciation: hook
    Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to הֲלַךְ; to go; causatively, to bring; bring again, come, go (up).
    
12. Strong's Number: H3390
    There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלֵם
    Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlêm
    Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lame'
    Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם; {Jerusalem}; {Jerusalem}
    
13. Strong's Number: H5974
    There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עִם
    Transliteration: ʻim
    Pronunciation: eem
    Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עִם; {adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)}; by, from, like, to(-ward), with.