Ezra 6:10
in Ezra 6Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
KJV
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
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This verse in Ezra 6
Commentary
5 notes on this verseAnd pray for the life of the king, and of his sons - Even heathens believed that offerings made in their behalf to the God of the Jews would be available. And this principle has had considerable influence in certain states where there was even a form of religion established by the law, to induce them to tolerate other forms, that the state might have the benefit of their prayers.
This site's exposition
wheat, salt, wine, and oil
on Ezra 6:9-10
The decree lists young bulls, rams and lambs for burnt offerings, with wheat, salt, wine and oil, given daily without fail. The offerings go to the God of heaven, the court title for Israel's God. Darius asks something in return, prayer for the lives of the king and his sons.
This site's exposition
to pray for the lives of the king
Clarke finds a common belief behind the king's request: even heathens held that sacrifices offered for them to the God of the Jews would avail. The decree ties the daily offerings of verse 9 to prayer for the king and his sons. Darius paid for those prayers.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven,....
Thirdly, To prayer: That they may pray for the life of the king. He knew they were a praying people, and had heard that God was nigh to them in all that which they called upon him for. He was sensible he needed their prayers and might receive benefit by them, and was kind to them in order that he might have an interest in their prayers.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
That they should in order that they should offer up pleasing sacrificing to the God of the heavens, and that they should pray for the life of the king and his children.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And an order is issued by me And a command is issued by me, along with the issue of a word regarding any person who disobeys this word.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| דִּֽי־ | di- | that | H1768 → | 345 times |
| לֶהֱוֹ֧ן | lehevon | they will be | H1934 → | 71 times |
| מְהַקְרְבִ֛ין | mehakrevin | offering | H7127 → | 9 times |
| נִיחוֹחִ֖ין | nichochin | soothing offerings | H5208 → | |
| לֶאֱלָ֣הּ | leelah | to [the] God of | H426 → | 95 times |
| שְׁמַיָּ֑א | shemaiya' | heavens the | H8065 → | 38 times |
| וּמְצַלַּ֕יִן | umetzalayin | and praying | H6739 → | |
| לְחַיֵּ֥י | lechaiyei | for [the] life<s> of | H2417 → | |
| מַלְכָּ֖א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ | uvenohi | and sons his | H1247 → | 19 times |
דִּֽי־that
di-H1768 →345 times
לֶהֱוֹ֧ןthey will be
lehevonH1934 →71 times
מְהַקְרְבִ֛יןoffering
mehakrevinH7127 →9 times
נִיחוֹחִ֖יןsoothing offerings
nichochinH5208 →
לֶאֱלָ֣הּto [the] God of
leelahH426 →95 times
שְׁמַיָּ֑אheavens the
shemaiya'H8065 →38 times
וּמְצַלַּ֕יִןand praying
umetzalayinH6739 →
לְחַיֵּ֥יfor [the] life<s> of
lechaiyeiH2417 →
מַלְכָּ֖אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃and sons his
uvenohiH1247 →19 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 5:2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 13:34
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
- Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:15
Through
Jeremiah 29:7Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 2:1–2
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—
- 1 Timothy 2:1–2
Through
Genesis 8:21When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth.…
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Genesis 6:5
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
- Ephesians 5:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
On this verse
About Ezra
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.