Ezra 7:12 (GNV)

Passage

ARTAHSHASHTE King of Kings to Ezra the Priest and perfite scribe of the Lawe of the God of heauen, and to Cheeneth.

Nearby Context

Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seeke the Lawe of the Lord, and to doe it, and to teach the precepts and iudgements in Israel.

Ezra 7:11 And this is the copie of the letter that King Artahshashte gaue vnto Ezra the Priest and scribe, euen a writer of the words of the commadements of ye Lord, and of his statutes ouer Israel.

Ezra 7:12 ARTAHSHASHTE King of Kings to Ezra the Priest and perfite scribe of the Lawe of the God of heauen, and to Cheeneth.

Ezra 7:13 I haue giuen commandement, that euery one, that is willing in my kingdome of the people of Israel, and of the Priestes, and Leuites to goe to Ierusalem with thee, shall goe.

Ezra 7:14 Therefore art thou sent of the King and his seuen counsellers, to enquire in Iudah and Ierusalem, according to the lawe of thy God, which is in thine hand,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "artahshashte", "king", "kings", "ezra", "priest", "perfite", "scribe", and "lawe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "artahshashte" and "king", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "And this is the copie of the..." into verse 13's "I haue giuen commandement that euery one...", so "artahshashte" and "king" belong inside that flow. In Ezra context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "artahshashte" and "king" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.