Ezra 7:6
What does Ezra 7:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 7:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 7:6 means
Now the narrative moves from who Ezra is to what he does. He leaves Babylon as a “ready scribe” in the Law of Moses—skilled, diligent, and accurate in handling God’s Word given to Israel. Remarkably, the king grants all Ezra’s requests. The text immediately attributes this to “the hand of Jehovah his God,” showing that human favor is God’s gift. Ezra’s learning is not mere scholarship; it becomes the instrument through which God advances His purposes. The verse portrays a beautiful partnership: Ezra’s preparedness meets God’s providence, resulting in open doors. The scene prepares readers to see subsequent royal generosity and authority as God’s doing through a faithful, capable servant.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a scribe, expert in the law of Moses which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given: and the king, moved by the Lord his God, gave him whatever he made request for.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Ezra himself hath come up from Babylon, and he <FI>is<Fi> a scribe ready in the law of Moses, that Jehovah God of Israel gave, and the king giveth to him--according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him--all his request.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This Esdras went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God had given to Israel: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890— this Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah theGod of Israel had given. And the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah hisGod upon him.
Context
Verse 6 launches the action after the genealogy. It introduces Ezra’s competence as a scribe and the divine favor that moves the Persian king to support him. This prepares for the description of companions (verse 7), travel timing (verses 8–9), and Ezra’s heart for God’s Law (verse 10). These elements together will explain why Artaxerxes issues a sweeping decree (verses 11–26) and why the journey succeeds. The key theme—“the hand of Jehovah”—will recur, interpreting events through God’s providence.
v.5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
v.6This passage
v.7And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 50:2
Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
- Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
- Nehemiah 2:12
And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
- Ezra 8:22
For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
- Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
- Nehemiah 1:10
Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.