Ezra 7:26
What does Ezra 7:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 7:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 7:26 means
The decree prescribes swift penalties for anyone who refuses to obey the Law of God and the law of the king: death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. This shows that the Persian administration viewed defiance of God’s Law, as administered by Ezra, as a civil offense threatening public order. The range of penalties fits the gravity of various offenses and reflects typical imperial severity. While the goal is obedience to God’s standards, the mechanism is legal authority backed by the state. The message is clear: the restored community is to be governed by God’s Law in earnest, with real consequences for hardened resistance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, take care that punishment is given to him, by death or by driving him from his country or by taking away his goods or by putting him in prison.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and any who doth not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, speedily is judgment done upon him, whether to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of riches, and to bonds.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king diligently, judgment shall be executed upon him, either unto death, or unto banishment, or to the confiscation of goods, or at least to prison.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And whosoever will not do the law of thyGod and the law of the king, let judgment be executed diligently upon him, whether unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Context
This verse concludes the royal letter’s directives by adding enforcement to instruction and provision. With penalties established, the decree forms a complete charter for worship, education, governance, and discipline in the province. The narrative will now shift from the king’s words to Ezra’s response of praise (verses 27–28), attributing the entire arrangement to Jehovah’s gracious hand at work through the Persian court.
v.25And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye him that knoweth them not.
v.26This passage
v.27Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 30:12
Also upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah.
- Ezra 6:11
Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:
- Deuteronomy 13:1
If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder,
- Psalms 52:5
God will likewise destroy thee for ever; He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. [Selah
- Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
- Leviticus 20:1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,