Ezra 7:26
New International Version
Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

New Living Translation
Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”

English Standard Version
Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

King James Bible
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

New King James Version
Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

New American Standard Bible
And whoever does not comply with the Law of your God and the law of the king, judgment is to be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment, or for confiscation of property or for imprisonment.”

NASB 1995
“Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”

NASB 1977
“And whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be done to him with all diligence, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”

Amplified Bible
Whoever does not observe and practice the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly and promptly, whether it be for death or banishment or confiscation of property or imprisonment.”

Christian Standard Bible
Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let the appropriate judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a fair judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

American Standard Version
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Contemporary English Version
Everyone who fails to obey God's Law or the king's law will be punished without pity. They will either be executed or put in prison or forced to leave their country, or have all they own taken away.

English Revised Version
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever will not strictly follow your God's Teachings and the king's orders should be promptly exiled, have his goods confiscated, be imprisoned or be sentenced to die.

Good News Translation
If any disobey the laws of your God or the laws of the empire, they are to be punished promptly: by death or by exile or by confiscation of their property or by imprisonment."

International Standard Version
Whoever refuses to practice the law of your God and the law of the king is to see judgment executed quickly, whether to death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

Majority Standard Bible
If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

NET Bible
Everyone who does not observe both the law of your God and the law of the king will be completely liable to the appropriate penalty, whether it is death or banishment or confiscation of property or detainment in prison."

New Heart English Bible
Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

World English Bible
Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and any who does not do the Law of your God, and the law of the king, judgment is done speedily on him, whether to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of riches, and to bonds.”

Young's Literal Translation
and any who doth not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, speedily is judgment done upon him, whether to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of riches, and to bonds.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And all not to be doing the laws of thy God, and the laws of the king, judgment to be done speedily upon him, if whether to death or to rooting him out, or to impose fines and for bonds.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king diligently, judgment shall be executed upon him, either unto death, or unto banishment, or to the confiscation of goods, or at least to prison.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And any one who will not diligently keep the law of your God, and the law of the king, judgment shall be upon him, either to death, or to exile, or to the confiscation of his goods, or certainly to prison.”

New American Bible
All who will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon them with all diligence, whether death, or corporal punishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”

New Revised Standard Version
All who will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on them, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of their goods or for imprisonment.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whosoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be to death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And everyone who will not be doing the law of your God and the Law of the King, judgment shall be executed of him rigorously, whether for death or for life, or whether for loss of riches or for the prison house.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And whosoever shall not do the law of God, and the law of the king readily, judgment shall be taken upon him, whether for death or for chastisement, or for a fine of his property, or casting into prison.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Artaxerxes' Letter for Ezra
25And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them. 26If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Cross References
Romans 13:1-4
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

Deuteronomy 17:8-13
If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. / You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case. / You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, ...

1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Proverbs 20:8
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

Matthew 22:21
“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

2 Chronicles 19:5-10
He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. / Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment. / And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” ...

Titus 3:1
Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

Ecclesiastes 8:2-5
Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God. / Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. / For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” ...

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Timothy 1:8-10
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. / We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

Exodus 18:21-22
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. / Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Proverbs 24:21-22
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious. / For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?

Luke 20:25
So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

1 Corinthians 6:1-6
If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints! / Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? / Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ...


Treasury of Scripture

And whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

whosoever

Ezra 6:11
Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

Daniel 3:28,29
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God…

Daniel 6:26
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

the law of thy God

2 Chronicles 30:12
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.

whether it be

Exodus 21:1-22:31
Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them…

Leviticus 20:1-27
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, …

Deuteronomy 13:1-18
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, …

banishment.

Psalm 52:5
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

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Ezra 7
1. Ezra goes up to Jerusalem
11. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra
27. Ezra blesses God for this favor














Whoever does not comply
This phrase sets a clear expectation of obedience to the law. In the context of Ezra, the return of the Israelites to Jerusalem was not just a physical journey but a spiritual reformation. The Hebrew root for "comply" suggests a deep adherence and commitment, indicating that the law was not merely a set of rules but a covenantal relationship with God. Historically, this reflects the post-exilic period's emphasis on re-establishing religious identity and purity.

with the law of your God
The "law of your God" refers to the Torah, the divine instructions given to the Israelites. This highlights the centrality of God's law in guiding the community's moral and spiritual life. The phrase underscores the personal relationship between the Israelites and God, emphasizing that the law is not just a national mandate but a personal commitment to divine will.

and the law of the king
This phrase indicates the dual authority under which the Israelites lived. The "law of the king" refers to the Persian king's decrees, showing the political reality of the time. The historical context here is significant; the Persian Empire allowed the Jews to return and rebuild, but they were still under Persian rule. This duality required the Israelites to navigate their identity as God's people while respecting earthly authority.

let judgment be executed upon him
This phrase speaks to the seriousness of the law and the consequences of disobedience. The Hebrew concept of "judgment" involves not just punishment but the restoration of justice and order. It reflects the biblical principle that God's laws are not arbitrary but are designed to maintain holiness and righteousness within the community.

promptly
The urgency implied by "promptly" suggests that justice should not be delayed. In the biblical context, swift justice was seen as a deterrent to sin and a means to uphold the community's integrity. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God's justice is both immediate and inevitable.

whether by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment
This list of potential punishments illustrates the range of consequences for disobedience. Each form of punishment reflects the severity of breaking God's law and the need to maintain communal holiness. Historically, these were common forms of punishment in ancient Near Eastern societies, emphasizing the seriousness with which the law was to be taken. Theologically, it underscores the gravity of sin and the need for repentance and restoration.

(26) Let judgment be executed speedily upon him.--Hence civil authority is added to religious. All these powers were usually entrusted to the provincial administrators, with more or less of reservation, by the Persians. But it is obvious that their combination in the one person of this servant of Tehovah demanded express statement.

Verse 26. - Finally, to Ezra is intrusted distinctly the civil government of the Jewish people, with power to fine, imprison, banish, or put to death offenders, as he may think right. These powers were always intrusted by the Persians to the civil administrators of provinces, who were autocrats within their respective territories, and responsible to the king alone for the exercise of their authority. EZRA'S THANKSGIVING ON RECEIPT OF ARTAXERXES' LETTER (Ezra 7:27, 28). With an abruptness that may appear strange, but which has many parallels in the works of Oriental writers, Ezra passes without a word of explanation from Artaxerxes' letter to his own thanksgiving upon the receipt of it. Compare the interjectional prayers of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:4; Nehemiah 5:19; Nehemiah 6:9, 14, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If anyone
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3606: The whole, all, any, every

does not
לָא֩ (lā)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809: Not, no

keep
עָבֵ֜ד (‘ā·ḇêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5648: To do, make, prepare, keep

the law
דָּתָ֣א (dā·ṯā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 1882: A royal edict, statute

of
דִֽי־ (ḏî-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

your God
אֱלָהָ֗ךְ (’ĕ·lā·hāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 426: God

and the law
וְדָתָא֙ (wə·ḏā·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 1882: A royal edict, statute

of
דִּ֣י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

the king,
מַלְכָּ֔א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

let a strict
אָסְפַּ֕רְנָא (’ā·sə·par·nā)
Adverb
Strong's 629: Thoroughly, with (all) diligence

judgment
דִּינָ֕ה (dî·nāh)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1780: Judgement, strife

be
לֶהֱוֵ֨א (le·hĕ·wê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1934: To become, come to pass, be

executed
מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד (miṯ·‘ă·ḇêḏ)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5648: To do, make, prepare, keep

against him,
מִנֵּ֑הּ (min·nêh)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4481: From, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than

whether
הֵ֤ן (hên)
Conjunction
Strong's 2006: Lo!, there, less, whether, but, if

death,
לְמוֹת֙ (lə·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4193: Death

banishment,
לִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔י (liš·rō·šî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8332: Uprooting, banishment

confiscation
לַעֲנָ֥שׁ (la·‘ă·nāš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6065: Amercing, confiscation

of property,
נִכְסִ֖ין (niḵ·sîn)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5232: Riches, property

or imprisonment.
וְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃ (wə·le·’ĕ·sū·rîn)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 613: A band, bond


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OT History: Ezra 7:26 Whoever will not do the law (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 7:25
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