What Does Ezra 7:21 Mean in the King James?
And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
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 king’s decree turns Ezra’s asking into assigned service, so the request already carries a path to provision.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks to the moment a need is named: support can move through other people and material resources. The request becomes concrete work that the treasurers are charged to complete promptly.
THE ROOT
יִתְעֲבֵד
yitʿaved
GROWS FROM
עבד
To work or do; in the related Hebrew usage, to serve.
The word rendered “done” grows from the root עבד, which also carries the sense of service. The decree makes fulfilling the request a task for the treasurers: their work becomes service that brings provision into reach.
ALSO GROWS
avad: Serve, work.
עָבַד
This branch shows that the work of fulfilling a request can itself be service.
eved: Servant.
עֶבֶד
The same root names the person who serves, linking the completed task to the people who carry it out.
avodah: Work, service.
עֲבֹדָה
This branch makes the request tangible: it becomes labor assigned to be done.
יִשְׁאֵלְכֹן
yishʾelkhon
GROWS FROM
שאל
To ask, inquire, or request.
“require” in this verse is yishʾelkhon. The root describes Ezra asking the treasurers for what he needs. The decree joins that request to an order for action, carrying the asking forward into provision.
ALSO GROWS
shaʾal: Ask, inquire, request.
שָׁאַל
This verb names the act Ezra is authorized to do: ask the treasurers for what is needed.
sheʾelah: Request, question.
שְׁאֵלָה
This related form names what is asked, keeping the focus on a stated need that can receive a response.
THE PATTERN
A voiced need moves into the world when authority turns hearing into delegated action.
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?THE THREAD
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?The word rendered “done” in both verses comes from עבד, the root of work and service. Ezra 7:23 extends the connection: carrying out the command becomes service directed toward the house of God.
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