Ezra 7:10
What does Ezra 7:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 7:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 7:10 means
This key verse opens Ezra’s heart: he had set it to seek the Law of Jehovah, to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. The sequence is vital—study, obedience, then instruction. Ezra’s authority arises not only from lineage and learning, but from practiced faithfulness. He is committed to personal conformity to God’s Word and to the public good of teaching others. This combination explains why God’s hand rests on him and why the king trusts him. It models how true reform occurs: God’s Word mastered the man, then the man ministered the Word. Ezra’s mission is spiritual at its core, aimed at shaping Israel’s life by Scripture.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For Ezra had given his mind to learning the law of the Lord and doing it, and to teaching his rules and decisions in Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for Ezra hath prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For Esdras had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do and to teach in Israel the commandments and judgment.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For Ezra had directed his heart to seek the law of Jehovah and to do it, and to teach in Israel the statutes and the ordinances.
Context
Placed just before the royal letter, verse 10 supplies the theological reason for everything that follows. The decree will grant resources and power, but Ezra’s heart for God’s Law is the real foundation for right use of those gifts. The reader sees that authority without devotion would be dangerous; devotion without authority might be ineffective. Together, they frame Ezra’s coming role as teacher, organizer, and reformer in Jerusalem, aligning the community with God’s revealed will.
v.9For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
v.10This passage
v.11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Timothy 3:2
The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
- Deuteronomy 16:12
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
- 1 Samuel 7:3
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto Jehovah with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts unto Jehovah, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
- Matthew 7:24
Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:
- Job 11:13
If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;
- Nehemiah 8:1
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.