Ezra 7:25

25 "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, 1appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge * all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may 2teach anyone who is ignorant * of them.

Ezra 7:25 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 7:25

And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine
hand
Which he had a large share of from the Lord, and could readily make use of to good purpose; and this may be meant of the law of God made with the highest wisdom, and to know and observe which is an instance of wisdom in men, ( Deuteronomy 4:6 ) ,

set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are
beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God;
such as God, in his great wisdom, directed to in his wise law to be appointed over the people, to judge righteous judgment; to inform them in all matters of controversy that might arise among them, and decide them according to it; and lead them into a greater and better knowledge of it, ( Deuteronomy 16:18 ) ( 17:9 ) . Jarchi takes the word for "set" to be a comparative, and the sense to be, that the wisdom of Ezra was greater than the judges that judged the people, than them that knew the law:

and teach ye them that know them not;
such people that were ignorant thereof; though the above writer interprets this of ignorant judges,

``the judge that knows not to judge, make him know judgment to do it.''

Ezra 7:25 In-Context

23 "Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
24 "We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.
25 "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them.
26 "Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment."
27 Blessed be the LORD , the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to adorn the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem,

Cross References 2

  • 1. Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 16:18
  • 2. Ezra 7:10; Malachi 2:7; Colossians 1:28
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.