King James Version

What Does Ezra 7:26 Mean?

Ezra 7:26 in the King James Version says “And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, wheth...” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out”

Ezra 7:26 · KJV

Context

24

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

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.

26

And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out

27

Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

28

And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Read Ezra 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The enforcement authority—'And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment'—provides punitive power. The pairing 'law of thy God, and the law of the king' equates Torah and imperial law, giving biblical commands legal force. The severe penalties (death, banishment, confiscation, imprisonment) enabled effective enforcement. God's law required not just teaching but community-wide obedience with consequences for violation.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The penalties listed correspond to ancient legal norms: capital punishment for serious crimes, banishment for threats to community, property confiscation for financial crimes, imprisonment for lesser offenses. That Torah violations carried civil penalties demonstrates theocratic governance where religious and civil law coincide. This authority was extraordinary—Artaxerxes gave Ezra power to enforce biblical law with state authority. Such comprehensive authorization demonstrated divine providence in establishing godly community governance.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does civil enforcement of divine law demonstrate that God's commands govern public life, not just private spirituality?
  2. What does the range of penalties teach about proportionate justice addressing various levels of covenant violation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וְכָל1 of 24

“And whosoever”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

דִּי2 of 24
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

לָא֩3 of 24

“will not”

H3809

no, not

לֶֽהֱוֵ֥א4 of 24

“be”

H1934

to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)

מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד5 of 24

“executed”

H5648

to do, make, prepare, keep, etc

וְדָתָא֙6 of 24

“and the law”

H1882

a royal edict or statute

דִֽי7 of 24
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

אֱלָהָ֗ךְ8 of 24

“of thy God”

H426

god

וְדָתָא֙9 of 24

“and the law”

H1882

a royal edict or statute

דִּ֣י10 of 24
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

מַלְכָּ֔א11 of 24

“of the king”

H4430

a king

אָסְפַּ֕רְנָא12 of 24

“speedily”

H629

diligently

דִּינָ֕ה13 of 24

“let judgment”

H1780

judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife

לֶֽהֱוֵ֥א14 of 24

“be”

H1934

to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)

מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד15 of 24

“executed”

H5648

to do, make, prepare, keep, etc

מִנֵּ֑הּ16 of 24

“upon him”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

הֵן17 of 24

“or”

H2006

lo! also there(-fore), (un-)less, whether, but, if

לְמוֹת֙18 of 24

“it be unto death”

H4193

death

הֵן19 of 24

“or”

H2006

lo! also there(-fore), (un-)less, whether, but, if

לִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔ו20 of 24

“to banishment”

H8332

eradication, i.e., (figuratively) exile

הֵן21 of 24

“or”

H2006

lo! also there(-fore), (un-)less, whether, but, if

לַֽעֲנָ֥שׁ22 of 24

“to confiscation”

H6065

to take something from someone by fraud or extortion

נִכְסִ֖ין23 of 24

“of goods”

H5232

treasure

וְלֶֽאֱסוּרִֽין׃24 of 24

“or to imprisonment”

H613

a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezra. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezra 7:26 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezra 7:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezra 6:11Deuteronomy 13:1-18Leviticus 20:1-27Exodus 21:1-22Daniel 6:26Daniel 3:28-29

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