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,

EZRA 7:21KJV
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Ezra 7:21 (KJV)

What does Ezra 7:21 mean?

Ezra 7:21 records a Persian king’s order giving Ezra access to government supplies for his work. Artaxerxes tells the officials who manage those resources to respond quickly to Ezra’s requests. The verse shows that Ezra’s mission has the king’s practical support.

The words “I, even I” place the order directly under the king’s authority. The officials addressed are “beyond the river”: from the Persian court’s viewpoint, that means the region west of the Euphrates, including Judah. Ezra is identified as both a priest and a scribe, someone skilled in the law of the God of heaven.

The Aramaic behind Ezra 7:21

  • “treasurers” — גִּזְבָּר (gizbar): This word refers to officials in charge of a treasury. The order goes to people responsible for managing resources, not to the population at large.
  • “decree” — טְעֵם (teʿem): Here the word carries the sense of an official order. It marks the king’s statement as an instruction his officials are expected to carry out.

Why Ezra 7:21 matters

  • The king’s authorization has practical limits. The next verse names maximum amounts for several supplies, even though verse 21 says “whatsoever Ezra” requests.
  • Ezra’s role explains why he is named in the order. The king calls him “the scribe of the law of the God of heaven,” connecting the resources to his official work with that law.
  • The order reaches local officials directly. By addressing “all the treasurers” in the region, the king gives Ezra a way to obtain resources where his work will take place.

Where else these words appear

“Ezra” Hebrew H5831 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
  • Ezra 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

“scribe” Hebrew H5613 · used in 6 verses

  • Ezra 4:8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
  • Ezra 4:9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
  • Ezra 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

“require” Hebrew H7593 · used in 6 verses

  • Ezra 5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
  • Ezra 5:10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
  • Daniel 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

“speedily” Hebrew H629 · used in 7 verses

  • Ezra 5:8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
  • Ezra 6:12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
  • Ezra 7:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.