5830. Ezra
Lexical Summary
Ezra: Ezra

Original Word: עֶזְרָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Ezra'
Pronunciation: ez-rah
Phonetic Spelling: (ez-raw')
KJV: Ezra
NASB: Ezra
Word Origin: [a variation of H5833 (עֶזרָה עֶזרָת - help)]

1. Ezra, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ezra

A variation of ezrah; Ezra, an Israelite -- Ezra.

see HEBREW ezrah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from azar
Definition
"help," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Ezra (22).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֶזְרָא proper name, masculine Εσρας, Εσδρας, Εζδρας;

1 Ezra Ezra 7:1,10; Ezra 10:1,2,5,6; Nehemiah 8:6; called (ה)סֹּפֵר Ezra 7:6; Nehemiah 8:1,4,5,13; Nehemiah 12:36, הַכֹּהֵן Ezra 10:10,16; Nehemiah 8:2,9, both Ezra 7:11; Nehemiah 12:26.

2 priest with Zerubbabel Nehemiah 12:1,13.

3 Nehemiah 12:33.

עֶזְרָא proper name, masculine Ezra (Biblical Hebrew id.); — Ezra 7:12,21,25.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning of the Name

The Hebrew name עֶזְרָא (Ezra) comes from a root meaning “help” or “helper,” fitting the man whose ministry helped re-establish covenant life after the Babylonian exile.

Historical Setting

Ezra ministered during the reign of Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC). His journey from Babylon to Jerusalem in 458 BC (Ezra 7:7–9) occurred about eighty years after the first return under Zerubbabel and roughly thirteen years before Nehemiah’s arrival (Nehemiah 2:1).

Priestly Lineage

Ezra traces his ancestry through sixteen generations back to “Aaron the chief priest” (Ezra 7:5). This pedigree legitimized his authority to teach, judge, and reform the post-exilic community.

Commission from Artaxerxes

Artaxerxes granted Ezra “all he requested, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him” (Ezra 7:6). The king’s decree (Ezra 7:11–26) authorized Ezra to:
• convey silver and gold for Temple worship;
• appoint magistrates and judges;
• teach “the laws of your God” (7:25);
• enforce obedience, even by banishment, confiscation, imprisonment, or death (7:26).

The royal favor underscores Proverbs 21:1 that “the king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD.”

Devotion to Scripture

Ezra 7:10 summarizes his life program: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Study, obedience, and instruction form the paradigm for every biblical teacher.

Restoration Journey

The caravan Ezra led included priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants (Ezra 7:7). Before departure they fasted at the river Ahava, seeking divine protection (8:21–23). The safe arrival proved “the hand of our God was upon us” (8:31).

Purification of the Community

Soon after settling in Jerusalem, Ezra confronted intermarriage with pagan women (Ezra 9:1–4). His heartfelt prayer (9:6–15) brought nationwide repentance. At a public assembly he charged: “You have been unfaithful… Now make confession to the LORD” (Ezra 10:10–11). The resulting covenant renewal safeguarded Israel’s distinct identity for Messiah’s lineage.

Public Reading of the Law

Years later, under Nehemiah, Ezra’s gifts resurfaced. On the first day of the seventh month, “Ezra the scribe brought the Law before the assembly” (Nehemiah 8:2). Standing on a wooden platform, he read “from daybreak till noon” while Levites “gave the sense” (8:3–8). The people’s response—hands lifted, faces bowed, tears shed—illustrates the power of expositional preaching.

Joint Leadership with Nehemiah

Though distinct offices—Ezra the priest-scribe, Nehemiah the governor—their collaboration produced comprehensive reform: spiritual (teaching and worship) and social (walls and governance). Together they led covenant renewal (Nehemiah 8–10) and dedication of the rebuilt wall with choirs “led by Ezra the scribe” (Nehemiah 12:36).

Liturgical and Canonical Contributions

Jewish tradition credits Ezra with organizing the Psalter’s final structure, initiating the Great Synagogue, and advancing the canonization of the Law and Prophets. While Scripture does not detail these tasks, his commitment to textual accuracy and public instruction laid groundwork for later synagogue worship and scribal transmission.

Occurrences outside Ezra–Nehemiah

All twenty-two occurrences of the name appear in Ezra and Nehemiah, reinforcing that the biblical focus rests on this single, epoch-shaping servant.

Theological Significance

1. Providence: The repeated phrase “the hand of the LORD was upon him” (Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31) highlights God’s sovereign direction.
2. Word-Centered Reform: Lasting revival arises from Scripture rightly handled and obeyed.
3. Holiness: Separation from idolatry remains essential for covenant faithfulness.
4. Leadership: Ezra embodies servant leadership grounded in personal piety and doctrinal depth.

Practical Lessons for Believers

• Commit to disciplined study of God’s Word.
• Apply truth personally before teaching others.
• Seek God’s help in every enterprise; fasting and prayer accompany ministry.
• Confront sin with humility and courage, knowing genuine repentance leads to restoration.
• Collaborate across gifts and callings for comprehensive kingdom work.

Legacy

Ezra’s ministry re-anchored post-exilic Israel in the Law, prepared the stage for later prophetic voices, and modeled a scholar-pastor pattern echoed in teachers from Timothy (2 Timothy 2:15) to the present. His name, “help,” aptly portrays a life through which the Lord helped His people rediscover covenant identity and hope.

Forms and Transliterations
וְעֶזְרָ֣א וְעֶזְרָ֥א ועזרא לְעֶזְרָ֔א לְעֶזְרָ֣א לְעֶזְרָ֥א לעזרא עֶזְרָ֔א עֶזְרָ֖א עֶזְרָ֗א עֶזְרָ֡א עֶזְרָ֣א עֶזְרָ֤א עֶזְרָ֨א עֶזְרָֽא׃ עֶזְרָא֙ עזרא עזרא׃ ‘ez·rā ‘ezrā ezRa lə‘ezrā lə·‘ez·rā leezRa veezRa wə‘ezrā wə·‘ez·rā
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 7:1
HEB: מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָ֑ס עֶזְרָא֙ בֶּן־ שְׂרָיָ֔ה
NAS: of Persia, [there went up] Ezra son
KJV: of Persia, Ezra the son
INT: king of Persia Ezra son of Seraiah

Ezra 7:6
HEB: ה֤וּא עֶזְרָא֙ עָלָ֣ה מִבָּבֶ֔ל
NAS: This Ezra went up from Babylon,
KJV: This Ezra went up from Babylon;
INT: This Ezra went Babylon

Ezra 7:10
HEB: כִּ֤י עֶזְרָא֙ הֵכִ֣ין לְבָב֔וֹ
NAS: For Ezra had set his heart
KJV: For Ezra had prepared his heart
INT: For Ezra had set his heart

Ezra 7:11
HEB: הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא לְעֶזְרָ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַסֹּפֵ֑ר
NAS: gave to Ezra the priest,
KJV: gave unto Ezra the priest,
INT: King Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest the scribe

Ezra 10:1
HEB: וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּכְ֨הִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ בֹּכֶה֙
NAS: Now while Ezra was praying
KJV: Now when Ezra had prayed,
INT: was praying Ezra and making weeping

Ezra 10:2
HEB: ק) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֶזְרָ֔א אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ מָעַ֣לְנוּ
NAS: said to Ezra, We have been unfaithful
KJV: and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed
INT: Elam said to Ezra we have been

Ezra 10:5
HEB: וַיָּ֣קָם עֶזְרָ֡א וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע אֶת־
NAS: Then Ezra rose and made the leading
KJV: Then arose Ezra, and made the chief
INT: rose Ezra take the leading

Ezra 10:6
HEB: וַיָּ֣קָם עֶזְרָ֗א מִלִּפְנֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית
NAS: Then Ezra rose from before
KJV: Then Ezra rose up from before
INT: rose Ezra before the house

Ezra 10:10
HEB: וַיָּ֨קָם עֶזְרָ֤א הַכֹּהֵן֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
NAS: Then Ezra the priest stood
KJV: And Ezra the priest stood up,
INT: stood Ezra the priest and said

Ezra 10:16
HEB: הַגּוֹלָה֒ וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ עֶזְרָ֨א הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֲנָשִׁ֨ים
NAS: did so. And Ezra the priest selected
KJV: did so. And Ezra the priest,
INT: of the captivity selected and Ezra the priest men

Nehemiah 8:1
HEB: הַמָּ֑יִם וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ לְעֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֔ר לְהָבִ֗יא
NAS: and they asked Ezra the scribe
KJV: and they spake unto Ezra the scribe
INT: of the Water asked Ezra the scribe to bring

Nehemiah 8:2
HEB: וַיָּבִ֣יא עֶזְרָ֣א הַ֠כֹּהֵן אֶֽת־
NAS: Then Ezra the priest brought
KJV: And Ezra the priest brought
INT: brought Ezra the priest the law

Nehemiah 8:4
HEB: וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֞ד עֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֗ר עַֽל־
NAS: Ezra the scribe stood
KJV: And Ezra the scribe stood
INT: stood Ezra the scribe upon

Nehemiah 8:5
HEB: וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח עֶזְרָ֤א הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י
NAS: Ezra opened the book
KJV: And Ezra opened the book
INT: opened Ezra the book the sight

Nehemiah 8:6
HEB: וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ עֶזְרָ֔א אֶת־ יְהוָ֥ה
NAS: Then Ezra blessed the LORD
KJV: And Ezra blessed the LORD,
INT: blessed Ezra the LORD God

Nehemiah 8:9
HEB: ה֣וּא הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא וְעֶזְרָ֣א הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ הַסֹּפֵ֡ר
NAS: was the governor, and Ezra the priest
KJV: which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest
INT: who was the governor and Ezra the priest the scribe

Nehemiah 8:13
HEB: וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶל־ עֶזְרָ֖א הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל
NAS: were gathered to Ezra the scribe
KJV: and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe,
INT: and the Levites to Ezra the scribe gain

Nehemiah 12:1
HEB: שְׂרָיָ֥ה יִרְמְיָ֖ה עֶזְרָֽא׃
NAS: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
KJV: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
INT: Seraiah Jeremiah Ezra

Nehemiah 12:13
HEB: לְעֶזְרָ֣א מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם לַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה
NAS: of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,
KJV: Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,
INT: of Ezra Meshullam of Amariah

Nehemiah 12:26
HEB: נְחֶמְיָ֣ה הַפֶּחָ֔ה וְעֶזְרָ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַסּוֹפֵֽר׃
NAS: the governor and of Ezra the priest
KJV: the governor, and of Ezra the priest,
INT: of Nehemiah the governor Ezra the priest the scribe

Nehemiah 12:33
HEB: וַעֲזַרְיָ֥ה עֶזְרָ֖א וּמְשֻׁלָּֽם׃
NAS: with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
KJV: And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
INT: Azariah Ezra Meshullam

Nehemiah 12:36
HEB: אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעֶזְרָ֥א הַסּוֹפֵ֖ר לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: of God. And Ezra the scribe
KJV: of God, and Ezra the scribe
INT: the man of God and Ezra the scribe before

22 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5830
22 Occurrences


‘ez·rā — 15 Occ.
lə·‘ez·rā — 4 Occ.
wə·‘ez·rā — 3 Occ.

5829
Top of Page
Top of Page