Ezra
Who he was
Ezra was a prominent Jewish priest and scribe who lived during the Persian period. He was a descendant of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Ezra 7:1–5). Ezra was known for his devotion to the study and teaching of the Law of Moses (Ezr.7.6, 10). He led a group of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes of Persia (Ezra 7:7–8). Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many of the Jews, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the pagan peoples of the land (Ezra 9:1–2). Ezra prayed and confessed the sins of the people, leading to a spiritual reformation and the dissolution of the mixed marriages (Ezra 10). Ezra also played a significant role in teaching the Law to the people and leading them in a covenant renewal ceremony (Nehemiah 8). He worked closely with Nehemiah, the governor of Judah, in rebuilding Jerusalem and restoring the spiritual life of the Jewish community (Neh.12.26, 36).
Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Family
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Every mention
22 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
Ezra13 mentions
Ezra 7:1Now 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 7:6this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to Yahweh his…Ezra 7:10For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.Ezra 7:11Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of Yahweh’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel:Ezra 7:12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. NowEzra 7:21I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it…Ezra 7:25You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your…Ezra 10:1Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before God’s house, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and…Ezra 10:2Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope…Ezra 10:5Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.Ezra 10:6Then Ezra rose up from before God’s house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. When he came there, he didn’t eat bread or drink water, for he mourned because of the…Ezra 10:10Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, increasing the guilt of Israel.Ezra 10:16The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat…
Nehemiah9 mentions
Nehemiah 8:1All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses…Nehemiah 8:2Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.Nehemiah 8:4Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his…Nehemiah 8:5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up.Nehemiah 8:6Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the…Nehemiah 8:9Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is holy to Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all…Nehemiah 8:13On the second day, the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to study the words of the law.Nehemiah 12:26These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and scribe.Nehemiah 12:36and his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.
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Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain