“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim past the king's imposing title, "king of kings," but it's more than just a fancy name. It highlights the vast, multi-kingdom empire Persia ruled, making Ezra's mission to restore God's Law within that immense structure incredibly significant.
“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage introduces a formal letter from King Artaxerxes to Ezra, granting him permission and resources to return to Jerusalem. The king's lofty titles emphasize the vastness of his empire, while his description of Ezra highlights his respected position as a scribe of God's law. This official decree marks a pivotal moment, empowering Ezra to lead the next wave of Jewish returnees and to re-establish religious and civil order in Jerusalem.
What does it mean for a king to call himself 'king of kings'? It's more than just grandiosity – it reveals a lot about power and authority in the ancient world.
When King Artaxerxes introduces himself as "king of kings," he's not just boasting. This was a genuine title reflecting the vast Persian Empire, which held dominion over numerous subject kingdoms and rulers.
Ezra is addressed with impressive titles, but one stands out as his greatest source of identity and honor.
Artaxerxes identifies Ezra with formal titles, including 'priest' and 'scribe of the Law of the God of heaven.' Interestingly, the emphasis here is on Ezra's role as a "perfect scribe."
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Understand the original words
elah shemayya · Hebrew/Aramaic Noun phrase
A title used for God emphasizing His sovereignty, transcendence, and authority over the entire created order, particularly common in post-exilic writings.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire, conquered Babylon. This marked the beginning of Persian rule over Mesopotamia and the Near East, leading to the eventual return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
c. 522 – 486 BC
Reign of Darius the Great
Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, solidified the Persian Empire's administration, dividing it into satrapies and establishing a sophisticated infrastructure. His reign saw the completion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 486 – 465 BC
Reign of Xerxes I
Xerxes I, son of Darius, succeeded his father and led a massive invasion of Greece. His reign is noted for its opulence and military campaigns, though it did not significantly impact the Jewish community in Persia.
c. 465 – 424 BC— this verse
Reign of Artaxerxes I
Artaxerxes I Longimanus ruled the Persian Empire during a period of consolidation and ongoing tensions with Greek city-states. This is the Artaxerxes mentioned in Ezra, who issued a significant decree enabling Ezra's return to Jerusalem.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's return to Jerusalem
Under the authority of Artaxerxes I, Ezra the priest and scribe led a contingent of Jews from Babylon back to Jerusalem, empowered to restore the city's religious and civil life according to the Law of God.
This verse highlights the Persian monarch's inherited title 'king of kings' from Babylonian rulers, emphasizing the vast dominion and authority this title conveyed.
Ezra 1:2It echoes the Persian king's recognition of the 'God of heaven,' showing how Cyrus, and later Artaxerxes, acknowledged the supreme authority of Israel's God in their decrees.
Nehemiah 2:1This passage shows Artaxerxes himself in a personal interaction, further illustrating his position of supreme authority from which he issues commands, underscoring the significance of his titles.
This passage provides a parallel account where Artaxerxes addresses Ezra with a similar formal salutation, reinforcing the context and language used in official royal correspondence.
gillEzra 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."
Artaxerxes, king of kings,.... Having many kings and kingdoms subject and tributary to him; for this was not merely a proud haughty title which the eastern kings (p) assumed, particularly the Persians; for after Cyrus they were so in fact, who took this title also, and had it put on his sepulchral monument,"Here I lie, Cyrus, king of kings (q);''this title w…
pulpitEzra 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."
Verse 12. - Artaxerxes, king of kings. "King of kings, kkshayathiya khshaya-thiyanam," an equivalent of the modern shahinshah, was a recognised title of the Persian monarchs, and is found in every Persian inscription of any considerable length (Rawlinson, 'Cuneiform Inscriptions of Persis,' vol. 1 pp. 195, 271, 279, 287, 292, etc.). It was a title that had b…
It's easy to skim past the king's imposing title, "king of kings," but it's more than just a fancy name. It highlights the vast, multi-kingdom empire Persia ruled, making Ezra's mission to restore God's Law within that immense structure incredibly significant.
This passage introduces a formal letter from King Artaxerxes to Ezra, granting him permission and resources to return to Jerusalem. The king's lofty titles emphasize the vastness of his empire, while his description of Ezra highlights his respected position as a scribe of God's law. This official decree marks a pivotal moment, empowering Ezra to lead the next wave of Jewish returnees and to re-establish religious and civil order in Jerusalem.
This passage introduces a formal letter from King Artaxerxes to Ezra, granting him permission and resources to return to Jerusalem. The king's lofty titles emphasize the vastness of his empire, while his description of Ezra highlights his respected position as a scribe of God's law. This official decree marks a pivotal moment, empowering Ezra to lead the next wave of Jewish returnees and to re-establish religious and civil order in Jerusalem.
"“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now" — It's easy to skim past the king's imposing title, "king of kings," but it's more than just a fancy name. It highlights the vast, multi-kingdom empire Persia ruled, making Ezra's mission to restore Go…
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Last reviewed October 2026