Ezra 5:7 - They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.

Generated Verse: Ezra 5:7

What does "Ezra 5:7" mean?


This verse, "They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace," from Ezra 5:7 is the beginning of a formal correspondence between the leaders of the Jewish people in Jerusalem and Darius I, the King of Persia. Let's break down the meaning:

"They sent a letter to him...": This indicates that the Jewish leaders (likely Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel, along with other elders) recognized Darius as the supreme authority and were communicating with him through official channels.

"...in which was written:": This introduces the contents of the letter.

"To Darius the king, all peace.": This is the opening salutation of the letter, a formal greeting to the king. It's a polite and respectful way to address a monarch. "All peace" is a wish for his well-being and prosperity. This was a common formula for correspondence in the ancient Near East.

In essence, the verse describes:

1. Recognition of Authority: The Jewish leaders acknowledge Darius's kingship.
2. Respectful Communication: The letter is a formal and diplomatic way to communicate with the king.
3. Wishing Well-Being: The salutation is a conventional way to express goodwill towards the recipient.

This verse sets the stage for the rest of the letter, which will go on to explain the circumstances surrounding the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the basis for their actions, appealing to the history of Cyrus's decree (which authorized the rebuilding of the Temple). It's a crucial piece of evidence in their attempt to gain Darius's support and prevent interference from their enemies.

What categories does "Ezra 5:7" have?