25
Ezra, appoint judges and other court officials. When you do it, use the wisdom your God gives you. Those you appoint should do what is right and fair when they judge people. They should do it for everyone who lives west of the Euphrates. They should do it for everyone who knows the laws of your God. And I want you to teach the people who don't know those laws.
Reference
Hebrew: ʻEzrâʼ
Ezra, an Israelite
Greek: συντάσσω (syntássō)
to arrange jointly, i.e. (figuratively) to direct
Hebrew: zâman
to fix (a time)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: λοιποί (loipoí)
remaining ones
Hebrew: chabrâh
an associate
Greek: αὐλή (aulḗ)
a yard (as open to the wind); by implication, a mansion
Hebrew: bayith
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Greek: ἐπάν (epán)
a particle of indefinite contemporaneousness; whenever, as soon as
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: χρῆσις (chrēsis)
employment, i.e. (specially), sexual intercourse (as an occupation of the body)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: σοφία (sophía)
wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)
Hebrew: chokmâh
wisdom
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: συντάσσω (syntássō)
to arrange jointly, i.e. (figuratively) to direct
Hebrew: zâman
to fix (a time)
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ἀστεῖος (asteîos)
urbane, i.e. (by implication) handsome
Hebrew: ṭûwb
good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the best), beauty, gladness, welfare
Greek: ἐπάν (epán)
a particle of indefinite contemporaneousness; whenever, as soon as
Greek: κριτής (kritḗs)
a judge (genitive case or specially)
Hebrew: ʼădargâzêr
a chief diviner, or astrologer
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: δυσμή (dysmḗ)
the sun-set, i.e. (by implication) the western region
Hebrew: maʻărâb
the west (as a region of the evening sun)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: Εὐφράτης (Euphrátēs)
Euphrates, a river of Asia
Hebrew: Pᵉrâth
Perath (i.e. Euphrates), a river of the East
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Greek: ὑστέρησις (hystérēsis)
a falling short, i.e. (specially), penury
Greek: διδάσκω (didáskō)
to teach (in the same broad application)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Greek: ἴσημι (ísēmi)
to know
Verse Explanation
Ezra was instructed to appoint magistrates and judges who knew the Law of God to administer justice among the people in the region. Those who did not know the Law were to be taught. Ezra's authority therefore extended beyond Temple worship into community administration.
History
c. 458 BC. Ezra's mission helped establish a stronger system of Jewish religious and civil governance in Judah.