uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כָּ⁠ל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ לְ⁠בַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְ⁠לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּ⁠דָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠ךְ דִּ֥י בִ⁠ידָֽ⁠ךְ

as=to corresponding that/who from/more_than before Oh/the=king and,seven counselors,his sent to,enquire on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Yehud and,about,Jerusalem in/on/at/with,law god,your that/who in/on/at/with,hand,your

Connecting Statement:

Verses 7:14–17 are one long sentence in Aramaic. The first part (7:14–16) provides the reasons for the second part (in 7:17). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could break up that sentence into several smaller sentences. To begin with, you could make this verse a sentence of its own. To do that, you could leave off the word Because and express the meaning later in verse 17 with a word such as “so” or “therefore.” Alternate translation: “The king and his seven counselors are sending you to inquire about Judah and about Jerusalem by the law of your God which is in your hand.”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כָּ⁠ל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩

as=to corresponding that/who

Connecting Statement:

The word Because indicates that in the long sentence that follows, the next several phrases (7:14–16) will provide the reasons for what the final two phrases say (in 7:17). If you have decided to keep the long sentence, you can translate this first word with the word or phrase in your language that introduces a reason. However, if it would be helpful in your language, also consider breaking up this long sentence. Alternate translation: “Since” or “In view of the fact that”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ

from/more_than before Oh/the=king and,seven counselors,his sent

If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translation: “I and my seven counselors are sending you”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ

from/more_than before Oh/the=king and,seven counselors,his sent

Artaxerxes speaks of himself here in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the first person. Alternate translation: “I and my seven counselors are sending you”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ

from/more_than before Oh/the=king and,seven counselors,his sent

This could mean literally that Ezra has been in the king’s presence, that is, in his court, and that the king is sending him out from there. This phrase would show anyone who read the letter that Ezra was an important figure in the royal court. The phrase could also be a spatial metaphor indicating that Ezra is going out on the king’s behalf and with his authority. Alternate translation: “I and my seven counselors are sending you from my court” or “I and my seven counselors are sending you with my authority”

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙

and,seven counselors,his

As in 4:5, counselors means royal advisors in the Persian court. The seven mentioned here appear to have been the king’s closest and most important advisors. Alternate translation: “and his seven chief royal advisors”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לְ⁠בַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְ⁠לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּ⁠דָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠ךְ

to,enquire on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Yehud and,about,Jerusalem in/on/at/with,law god,your

Artaxerxes is describing the Jews who are in the province of Judah, and especially its capital city of Jerusalem, figuratively, by reference to things that are associated with them, the province and city where they live. Alternate translation: “to see how carefully the Jews living in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem are following the law of your God”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לְ⁠בַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְ⁠לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּ⁠דָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠ךְ

to,enquire on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Yehud and,about,Jerusalem in/on/at/with,law god,your

The implication, particularly in light of the powers that the king gives Ezra at the end of the letter (7:25–26), is that inquire means more than just to find out about. It also implies to do something about. Alternate translation: “to make sure that the Jews living in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem follow the law of your God”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דִּ֥י בִ⁠ידָֽ⁠ךְ

that/who in/on/at/with,hand,your

Most likely, the word hand here means possession, indicating that Ezra was going to bring a written copy of the law of God with him. The phrase in your hand could mean that Ezra literally carried a scroll of the law in his hands or that he personally owned a written copy of the law. However, the phrase in your hand could also imply that Ezra will use the law as he performs his responsibilities in Judah and Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “that you carry with you” or “that you have with you” or “that you will use”