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.
Original Language Analysis
וְשָׂבֵ֤י
And the elders
H7868
וְשָׂבֵ֤י
And the elders
Strong's:
H7868
Word #:
1 of 22
properly, to become aged, i.e., (by implication) to grow gray
וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין
and they prospered
H6744
וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין
and they prospered
Strong's:
H6744
Word #:
4 of 22
to advance (transitive or intransitive)
וּזְכַרְיָ֖ה
and Zechariah
H2148
וּזְכַרְיָ֖ה
and Zechariah
Strong's:
H2148
Word #:
8 of 22
zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine israelites
מִן
it according
H4481
מִן
it according
Strong's:
H4481
Word #:
13 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of
טַ֙עַם֙
to the commandment
H2941
טַ֙עַם֙
to the commandment
Strong's:
H2941
Word #:
14 of 22
properly, a taste, i.e., a judicial sentence
וּמִטְּעֵם֙
and according to the commandment
H2942
וּמִטְּעֵם֙
and according to the commandment
Strong's:
H2942
Word #:
17 of 22
properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)
וְדָֽרְיָ֔וֶשׁ
and Darius
H1868
וְדָֽרְיָ֔וֶשׁ
and Darius
Strong's:
H1868
Word #:
19 of 22
darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several persian kings
Historical Context
This verse synthesizes the entire restoration narrative showing God's sovereignty operating through:
- prophetic word
- human labor
- divine command,
- governmental decrees.
Artaxerxes' mention (who reigned 465-424 BC) looks forward to his support of Ezra's later mission (Ezra 7), demonstrating biblical theology's comprehensive view of interconnected events across decades. The temple's completion in 516 BC fulfilled prophecy (Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10) exactly seventy years after destruction (586 BC).
Questions for Reflection
- How does Scripture's attribution of success to multiple simultaneous causes avoid reductionism—neither only human effort nor only divine sovereignty?
- What does the inclusion of three Persian kings demonstrate about God's long-term faithfulness across generations and regimes?
Analysis & Commentary
The summary statement identifies multiple causation: 'the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah.' Human builders worked, prophets encouraged, and God blessed—multiple simultaneous causes at different levels. The phrase 'they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel' establishes ultimate divine causation. The continuation 'and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia' shows God working through political authority.