Ezra 7:10
New International Version
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

New Living Translation
This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

English Standard Version
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

King James Bible
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

New King James Version
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

New American Standard Bible
For Ezra had firmly resolved to study the Law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

NASB 1995
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

NASB 1977
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of Yahweh and to practice it, and to teach His statute and judgment in Israel.

Amplified Bible
For Ezra had set his heart (resolved) to study and interpret the Law of the LORD, and to practice it and teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

American Standard Version
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

Contemporary English Version
Ezra had spent his entire life studying and obeying the Law of the LORD and teaching it to others.

English Revised Version
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ezra was determined to study the LORD's Teachings, live by them, and teach their rules and regulations in Israel.

Good News Translation
Ezra had devoted his life to studying the Law of the LORD, to practicing it, and to teaching all its laws and regulations to the people of Israel.

International Standard Version
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, to obey it, and to teach God's statutes and judgments in Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

NET Bible
Now Ezra had dedicated himself to the study of the law of the LORD, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel.

New Heart English Bible
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

Webster's Bible Translation
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

World English Bible
For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for Ezra has prepared his heart to seek the Law of YHWH, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.

Young's Literal Translation
for Ezra hath prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.

Smith's Literal Translation
For Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel the law and judgment.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Esdras had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do and to teach in Israel the commandments and judgment.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For Ezra prepared his heart, so that he might search the law of the Lord, and so that he might keep and teach precept and judgment in Israel.

New American Bible
Ezra had set his heart on the study and practice of the law of the LORD and on teaching statutes and ordinances in Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because Azra had made his heart ready to perform the Law of LORD JEHOVAH, and to do and to teach the law and judgment in Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For Esdras had determined in his heart to seek the law, and to do and teach the ordinances and judgments in Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezra Goes Up to Jerusalem
9He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Cross References
Nehemiah 8:1-8
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. / On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. / So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. ...

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. / Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ...

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. / But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. / He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

2 Chronicles 17:7-9
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, / accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. / They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

Psalm 119:97
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

1 Timothy 4:13-16
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching. / Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders. / Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ...

Proverbs 2:1-6
My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, / if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, / if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, ...

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.


Treasury of Scripture

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

prepared

1 Samuel 7:3
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

1 Chronicles 29:18
O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

2 Chronicles 12:14
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

the law

Ezra 7:6
This 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.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

to do it

Deuteronomy 16:12
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

and to teach

Ezra 7:25
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

Deuteronomy 33:10
They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

2 Chronicles 17:8,9
And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests…

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Decisions Decrees Devoted Directed Ezra Heart Israel Judgment Judgments Law Mind Observance Ordinances Practice Prepared Rules Seek Statute Statutes Study Teach Teaching
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Decisions Decrees Devoted Directed Ezra Heart Israel Judgment Judgments Law Mind Observance Ordinances Practice Prepared Rules Seek Statute Statutes Study Teach Teaching
Ezra 7
1. Ezra goes up to Jerusalem
11. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra
27. Ezra blesses God for this favor














For Ezra had set his heart
The phrase "set his heart" indicates a deliberate and intentional decision. In Hebrew, the word for "heart" is "lev," which often refers to the inner self, including mind, will, and emotions. Ezra's commitment was not superficial; it was a deep, heartfelt dedication. This reflects the biblical principle that true devotion to God begins internally, with a sincere and purposeful resolve.

to study the Law of the LORD
The word "study" in Hebrew is "darash," which means to seek, inquire, or investigate. Ezra's approach to the Law was not passive; it was active and diligent. The "Law of the LORD" refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which were central to Jewish life and worship. Ezra's commitment to study underscores the importance of understanding God's Word deeply and thoroughly, a principle that remains vital for believers today.

to practice it
The phrase "to practice it" highlights the application of knowledge. In Hebrew, the word "asah" means to do or to make. Ezra's intention was not merely academic; he aimed to live out the teachings of the Law. This reflects the biblical teaching that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). True understanding of Scripture is demonstrated through obedience and action.

and to teach its statutes and ordinances
The word "teach" in Hebrew is "lamad," which implies learning and instructing. Ezra's role as a teacher was crucial for the spiritual renewal of Israel. "Statutes and ordinances" refer to the specific commands and decrees within the Law. Ezra's mission was to ensure that the people of Israel understood and followed God's commands, emphasizing the importance of sound teaching and discipleship in the community of faith.

in Israel
The phrase "in Israel" situates Ezra's mission within the covenant community. Israel was the nation chosen by God to be a light to the nations, and Ezra's work was part of God's redemptive plan. This highlights the communal aspect of faith, where individual devotion contributes to the spiritual health and witness of the entire community. Ezra's example serves as an inspiration for believers to commit to personal growth and to contribute to the edification of the church.

(10) For Ezra had prepared his heart.--It must be remembered that the providence of God over him immediately precedes--not as the reward of his preparing his heart, but as the reason of it. First, he gave himself to study the law, then to practise it himself, and lastly to teach its positive statutes or ordinances and its moral judgments or precepts--a perfect description of a teacher in the congregation. There is nothing discordant in Ezra saying of himself that he had thus "set his heart."

Verse 10. - For Ezra had prepared his heart, etc. God's favour towards Ezra, and the prosperous issue of his journey, were the consequences of his having set his heart on learning God's will, and doing it, and teaching it to others. To seek the law is to aim at obtaining a complete knowledge of it. To teach statutes and judgments is to inculcate both the ceremonial and the moral precepts. Ezra appears as a teacher of righteousness in Ezra 10:10, 11, and again in Nehemiah 8:2-18

CHAPTER 7:11-28 THE DECREE OF ARTAXERXES WITH RESPECT TO EZRA (vers. 11-26). The present decree was of the nature of a firman granted to an individual. It embodied, in the first place, a certain number of provisions which were temporary. Of this character were -

1. the permission accorded to all Persian subjects of Israelite descent to accompany Ezra to Jerusalem (ver. 13);

2. the commission to Ezra to convey to Jerusalem certain offerings made by the king and his chief courtiers to the God of Israel (vers. 15, 19); . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Ezra
עֶזְרָא֙ (‘ez·rā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5830: Ezra -- 'help', three Israelites

had set
הֵכִ֣ין (hê·ḵîn)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

his heart
לְבָב֔וֹ (lə·ḇā·ḇōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

to study
לִדְר֛וֹשׁ (liḏ·rō·wōš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

the law
תּוֹרַ֥ת (tō·w·raṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

to practice it,
וְלַעֲשֹׂ֑ת (wə·la·‘ă·śōṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

and to teach
וּלְלַמֵּ֥ד (ū·lə·lam·mêḏ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

its statutes
חֹ֥ק (ḥōq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute

and ordinances
וּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (ū·miš·pāṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

in Israel.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (bə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 7:9
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