Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

EZRA 7:1KJV
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Ezra 7:1 (KJV)

What does Ezra 7:1 mean?

Ezra 7:1 introduces Ezra by placing him in the time of a Persian king and naming his family line. The verse begins a new part of the account, moving from earlier events in Jerusalem to Ezra’s arrival on the scene.

“After these things” points back to the events already described, including the completion of the temple in Jerusalem. The list of ancestors begins here and continues through verse 5, where Ezra’s family line reaches Aaron, Israel’s first chief priest.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 7:1

  • “son” — בֵּן (ben): This word can mean a son or a more distant descendant. In a family list like Ezra’s, “son of” can describe a connection between generations without necessarily naming every generation in between.
  • “things” — דָּבָר (davar): This word can refer to a matter or an event. Here, “after these things” marks a move forward from the events just told.

Why Ezra 7:1 matters

  • The verse marks a change of setting in time. The earlier account ended during the reign of Darius, while Ezra is introduced during the reign of Artaxerxes.
  • Ezra’s family line helps explain his place in the story. The names beginning with “Seraiah” lead to Aaron in verse 5, identifying Ezra with a priestly family.

Where else these words appear

“Artaxerxes” Hebrew H783 · used in 14 verses

  • Ezra 4:7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
  • Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
  • Ezra 7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

“Seraiah” Hebrew H8304 · used in 18 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
  • 1 Chronicles 4:35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
  • Nehemiah 12:12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

“Ezra” Hebrew H5830 · used in 22 verses

  • 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.
  • Ezra 10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
  • Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

“Persia” Hebrew H6539 · used in 24 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
  • Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
  • Esther 10:2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?