What Does Ezra 5:7 Mean in the King James?

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

Ezra 5:7 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The letter’s greeting carries more than a wish for calm: “all peace” speaks a wish for Darius’s wholeness.

THE MEANING

When a message reaches you, peace can carry a wish for your whole well-being, not merely a quiet moment. “All peace” places that wish at the threshold of what is said next.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Peace means only the absence of conflict; this word also carries wholeness and soundness.

THE ROOT

שְׁלָמָא

shelāmā

GROWS FROM

שלם

sh-l-m

To be whole, complete, or sound.

This Aramaic greeting carries the same Semitic root as Hebrew shalom: wholeness, completeness, and soundness. So “all peace” holds a wider wish than calm alone: well-being made whole.

ALSO GROWS

shalom: Peace, wholeness

שָׁלוֹם

The Hebrew cognate shows that peace can name a whole condition of well-being, not only the end of conflict.

shalem: Whole, complete

שָׁלֵם

This related form makes the root’s sense of completeness visible beneath the greeting.

THE PATTERN

A greeting of peace speaks a wish for wholeness over a person or community before the message unfolds.

And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

1 Samuel 25:6 · KJVThe greeting extends peace from one person to their household and all they possess.

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:26 · KJVPeace is spoken as something given to the person as part of a blessing.

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

John 20:19 · KJVThe greeting of peace meets a gathered community in the midst of fear.

THE THREAD

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Daniel 4:1 · KJV

Daniel’s Aramaic greeting uses the same ⁨שלם⁩ (sh-l-m) root of wholeness and extends its wish to peoples, nations, and languages. Ezra’s letter directs that same expansive wish toward Darius.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us