Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν ἑπτὰ συμβούλων ἀπεστάλη ἐπισκέψασθαι ἐπὶ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν καὶ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ νόμῳ Θεοῦ αὐτῶν τῷ ἐν χειρί σου·
(Apo prosōpou tou basileōs kai tōn hepta sumboulōn apestalaʸ episkepsasthai epi taʸn Youdaian kai eis Hierousalaʸm nomōi Theou autōn tōi en ⱪeiri sou; )

BrTr One has been sent from the king and the seven councillors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem, according to the law of their God that is in thine hand.

ULT Because it was sent from before the king and his seven counselors to inquire about Judah and about Jerusalem by the law of your God which is in your hand,

UST I, the king, and my seven advisors are sending you to investigate whether the people of Judah and Jerusalem are following the law of your God that you carry.

BSB You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.

OEB No OEB EZRA book available

WEBBE Because you are sent by the king and his seven counsellors to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET You are authorized by the king and his seven advisers to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your possession,

LSV because that from the king and his seven counselors you are sent, to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem, with the Law of God that [is] in your hand,

FBV You are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to investigate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem as it relates to the Law of your God, which you carry with you.[fn]

7:14 “Which you carry with you”: literally, “which is in your hand.”

T4T I, along with my seven counselors/advisors, am sending you to Jerusalem, in order that you can determine what is happening there and in other towns in Judah. You are taking with you [MTY] a copy of God’s laws; make sure that the people are doing everything that is written in those laws.

LEB For you are sent from the king and his seven counselors to enquire about Judah and Jerusalem concerning the law of your God, which is in your hand.

BBE Because you are sent by the king and his seven wise men, to get knowledge about Judah and Jerusalem, as you are ordered by the law of your God which is in your hand;

Moff No Moff EZRA book available

JPS Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;

ASV Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand,

DRA For thou art sent from before the king, and his seven counsellors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem according to the law of thy God, which is in thy hand.

YLT because that from the king and his seven counsellors thou art sent, to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem, with the law of God that [is] in thy hand,

Drby Because thou art sent by the king, and by his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy [fn]God which is in thy hand;

7.14 Elohim

RV Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

Wbstr Forasmuch as thou art sent by the king, and by his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;

KJB-1769 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;[fn]
(Forasmuch as thou/you art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Yudah and Yerusalem, according to the law of thy/your God which is in thine/your hand; )

7.14 of the king: Chaldee, from before the king

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seuen counsellers, to enquire concerning Iudah and Ierusalem, according to the Lawe of thy God, which is in thine hand;
(Forasmuch as thou/you art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Yudah and Yerusalem, according to the Lawe of thy/your God, which is in thine/your hand;)

7:14 Chal. from before the King.

7:14 Esth.1.14.

Bshps And therfore art thou sent of the king and of his seuen counsailers, to visite Iuda and Hierusalem, according to the law of thy God, which is in thy hande:
(And therefore art thou/you sent of the king and of his seven counsailers, to visit Yudah and Yerusalem, according to the law of thy/your God, which is in thy/your hande:)

Gnva 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,
(Therefore art thou/you sent of the King and his seven counsellors, to enquire in Yudah and Yerusalem, according to the law of thy/your God, which is in thine/your hand, )

Cvdl beynge sent of the kynge and of the seuen lordes of the councell, to vyset Iuda and Ierusalem, acordinge to the lawe of God, which is in thy hade:
(beynge sent of the king and of the seven lords of the councell, to visit Yudah and Yerusalem, according to the law of God, which is in thy/your hade:)

Wycl For thou art sent fro the face of the kyng and of hise seuene counseleris, that thou visite Judee and Jerusalem in the lawe of thi God, which is in thin hond;
(For thou/you art sent from the face of the king and of his seven counseleris, that thou/you visit Yudee and Yerusalem in the law of thy/your God, which is in thin hond;)

Luth vom Könige und den sieben Ratsherren gesandt, zu besuchen Juda und Jerusalem nach dem Gesetz Gottes, das unter deiner Hand ist,
(vom kings/king and the seven Ratsherren sent, to besuchen Yuda and Yerusalem after to_him law God’s, the under deiner hand is,)

ClVg A facie enim regis, et septem consiliatorum ejus, missus es, ut visites Judæam et Jerusalem in lege Dei tui, quæ est in manu tua:[fn]
(A face because king, and seven consiliatorum his, missus es, as visites Yudæam and Yerusalem in lege of_God tui, which it_is in by_hand tua: )

7.14 Ut cuicunque. Omnibus licentiam eundi tribuit, nullum ire compellit. Christiani principes nullum cogentes, ne sit incerta voluntas fidei, omnibus quibus placuerit in regno suo Christum colere permittunt. Et septem consiliatorum. In libro Esther legitur moris fuisse Persarum regibus, ut in cunctis agendis vel discernendis septem consilio uterentur. Septem consiliariis utuntur fideles cum in omnibus quæ faciunt præcepta divinæ Scripturæ sequuntur. De qua dicitur: Eloquia Domini eloquia casta, argentum igne examinatum, probatum terræ, purgatum septuplum Psal. 11., id est sancta illustratione septiformis spiritus perfectum. Missus es. Mittitur Esdras a facie regis et septem consiliatorum ejus, ut visitet Indiam et Jerusalem et conversi ad fidem principes sæculi et Scripturarum persuasionibus roborati, Christum ad salvandam Ecclesiam et congregandam de gentibus quotidiano auxilio, quod Esdræ nomen significat, venire desiderant, dicentes: Domine Deus virtutum, convertere, respice de cœlo, etc. Psal. 79. Quæ est in manu. Mirum quod invenitur verbum in epistola Artaxerxis quo prophetæ solent uti: cum dicit legem Dei esse in manu servi illius, scriptum est enim: Factum est verbum in manu Aggæi prophetæ. Et Dominus fecit quod locutus est in manu servi sui Eliæ; et testificatus est Dominus in Isræl et in Juda per manus omnium prophetarum: quia scilicet prophetæ non minus operando quam loquendo quæ Dei sunt, prædicabant. Christus legem in manu habuit: quia eam quondam per Moysen prout voluit, statuit; et nunc eamdem per semetipsum immutans ad perfectiora transtulit.

7.14 Ut cuicunque. Omnibus licentiam eundi tribuit, nullum ire compellit. of_Christani principes nullum cogentes, not let_it_be incerta voluntas of_faith, to_all to_whom placuerit in regno his_own Christum colere permittunt. And seven consiliatorum. In libro Esther legitur moris fuisse Persarum regibus, as in cunctis agendis or discernendis seven consilio uterentur. Septem consiliariis utuntur fideles when/with in to_all which faciunt præcepta divinæ Scripturæ sequuntur. De which it_is_said: Elobecause Master elobecause casta, argentum igne examinatum, probatum terræ, purgatum septuplum Psal. 11., id it_is sancta illustratione septiformis spiritus perfectum. Missus es. Mittitur Esdras from face king and seven consiliatorum his, as visitet Indiam and Yerusalem and conversi to faith principes sæculi and Scripturarum persuasionibus roborati, Christum to salvandam Ecclesiam and congregandam about nations quotidiano auxilio, that Esdræ nomen significat, venire desiderant, saying: Domine God virtutum, convertere, respice about cœlo, etc. Psal. 79. Quæ it_is in manu. Mirum that invenitur the_word in epistola Artaxerxis quo prophetæ solent uti: when/with dicit legem of_God esse in by_hand servi illius, scriptum it_is because: Done it_is the_word in by_hand Aggæi prophetæ. And Master he_did that spoke it_is in by_hand servi sui Eliæ; and testificatus it_is Master in Isræl and in Yuda through hands omnium prophetarum: because scilicet prophetæ not/no minus operando how loquendo which of_God are, prædicabant. Christus legem in by_hand habuit: because her quondam through Moysen prout voluit, statuit; and now eamdem through semetipsum immutans to perfectiora transtulit.

UTN 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”

Parallel EZRA 7:14

Connecting Statement:

Connecting Statement: