Ezra the Scribe

Ezra was a priest. He was also a scribe. That means he copied and studied the holy books. He lived a long time ago, after the Jewish people had been taken away to Babylon. They were far from home for many years.

After many years, some of the people were allowed to go back to Jerusalem. Ezra helped lead them. He did not lead them as a king or a warrior. He led them by teaching God’s law. He wanted the people to follow God again.

Ezra knew the law of Moses very well. He was not just a teacher. He loved God’s law and wanted others to love it too. He wanted people to worship God in the right way.

Ezra was sent by the king of Persia. The king gave him power to help rebuild the faith of the Jewish people. This was not just about buildings. It was about their hearts and their lives.

Ezra wanted to bring people back to God. He wanted them to remember who they were. He knew that they could not be strong without faith. For Ezra, faith came first.

Many people listened to Ezra. They were ready to change. They were ready to follow the law again. They were ready to be God’s people once more.

Ezra was not famous for doing great miracles. But he was faithful. He did what God wanted him to do. He helped bring the people back to the truth.

Ezra came from a family of priests. He could trace his family line all the way back to Aaron, the brother of Moses. He was proud to be a priest, but he was also humble. He did not use his role for power.

He was a scribe, which means he studied and copied the holy books. He spent many years learning the law of Moses. He did not just read the words. He lived them.

Ezra loved God’s law. He believed it showed people how to live good lives. He believed it helped people stay close to God. He also believed it should be taught to everyone.

Ezra was careful. He took his time to understand the law before he taught it. He wanted to be sure he was teaching the truth. He also wanted to make sure people understood it.

He prayed often. He trusted that God would help him teach others. He knew that teaching was not just about words. It was about helping people choose what is right.

Ezra was respected. People knew he was wise. They saw that he lived what he taught. That made them want to listen to him.

God used Ezra to rebuild the people’s faith. Ezra helped people learn the law again. Many had forgotten it while living in exile. Ezra gave them back their faith.

Ezra lived in Babylon for many years. He did not forget God. Even though he was far from Jerusalem, he still followed God’s law. He studied it and prayed often.

Then came a new king. The king was not Jewish, but he allowed the Jewish people to return home. He even gave them money and supplies. Ezra asked the king if he could lead a group back to Jerusalem.

The king agreed. Ezra gathered many people. They were families and priests and helpers. They all wanted to go back and start again. It was not an easy trip. It was long and full of danger.

Ezra prayed for safety. He did not ask the king for soldiers. He trusted God to protect them. He wanted the people to trust God too. They made the journey safely.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Ezra was sad. The people there were not following God’s law. Many had married foreign women. They had forgotten the law.

Ezra was shocked. He tore his clothes and cried. He prayed to God for mercy. He asked God to forgive the people. He asked the people to repent and return to the law.

Ezra did not use force. He used the truth. He read the law to the people. He reminded them who they were. Slowly, the people began to change.

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was hard. But the journey back to God was even harder. Ezra helped the people take that journey.

Ezra was not just a teacher. He was a leader. He saw that the people were not living as they should. He knew they needed to change. He did not look away. He spoke the truth.

One of the big problems was marriage. Many Jewish men had married women from other nations. These women did not follow God. This caused trouble for the people’s faith.

Ezra did not hate these women. But he knew that their beliefs were turning the people away from God. He told the people to send them away. It was a hard thing to do. Many were sad and confused.

But Ezra believed that God’s law had to come first. The people had made a promise to God. They had to be holy. They had to be different from the nations around them.

Ezra also helped rebuild worship. He reminded the people how to offer sacrifices. He showed them how to pray. He made sure the priests were doing their jobs.

Ezra knew that change would take time. But he stayed faithful. He kept teaching. He kept praying. He did not give up on the people.

The people began to listen. They saw that Ezra cared. They saw that he wanted what was good for them. Many people repented. They wanted to follow God again.

Ezra was not angry. He was serious. He loved God and wanted others to love Him too. He gave the people hope by showing them the way back.

Ezra was not alone. Another leader came to help. His name was Nehemiah. He was sent to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. While Nehemiah worked on the city, Ezra worked on the faith.

The two men worked well together. Nehemiah helped protect the people. Ezra helped teach them. One built the walls. The other built the people’s hearts.

One special day, Ezra stood before a crowd. He opened the book of the law. Everyone stood up. They listened carefully. Ezra read from morning until noon.

The people began to cry. They had not heard the law in a long time. They saw how far they had fallen. Ezra and the Levites helped them understand the words.

Nehemiah told them not to cry. He said it was a holy day. He told them to eat and celebrate. He reminded them that the joy of the Lord was their strength.

Ezra kept teaching day after day. The people learned to keep the feasts again. They started to follow the law. They began to live as God’s people.

Ezra and Nehemiah were different. But they had the same goal. They wanted the people to be faithful. They worked side by side for the good of all.

Ezra did not seek fame. He wanted to be faithful. With Nehemiah’s help, he brought faith back to the center of life in Jerusalem.

Ezra is remembered as a great teacher. He loved the law and helped others love it too. The Church sees him as a model for anyone who teaches the faith.

His life shows the importance of Scripture. He reminds us that we must know God’s word. He also reminds us that teaching must come with prayer and action.

Ezra did not speak for himself. He spoke for God. He did not try to change the law. He wanted to help the people live it with joy and faith.

In a world where people often forget God, Ezra shows us how to return. He did not use anger. He used truth and love. He shows us how to rebuild faith after it has been broken.

The Church honors Ezra in the Roman Martyrology. His feast day is July 13. He is not widely known today, but he is still important.

Ezra shows us that one faithful person can help many others. He reminds us that God works through those who are willing to listen, learn, and teach.

His work did not end with his life. The Jewish people passed on the law, thanks to his care. The Church still reads the Old Testament today, and Ezra helped preserve it.

Ezra’s quiet strength is a gift to us. He did not lead with power. He led with faith. And that kind of leadership still matters.

He lived around the 5th century B.C., after the Jewish people came back from exile in Babylon. Time to rebuild—he was ready!

He was both a priest and a scribe. That means he offered sacrifices and copied Scripture. Holy multitasker!

He knew the Law of Moses like the back of his hand. He probably memorized big chunks of it. Bible brain for sure.

The king of Persia—Artaxerxes—sent Ezra to Jerusalem with scrolls, supplies, and a big mission: teach the people God’s law.

Ezra didn’t just read the law; he lived it. His goal was to “study it, do it, and teach it.” That’s a good life plan.

He led a big group of exiles back to Jerusalem. It was a long, dusty road trip with prayer stops.

When they arrived, Ezra saw that people had forgotten God’s commandments. So he got to work fast.

He stood on a wooden platform and read the Law out loud for hours. People cried—they hadn’t heard it in years!

He didn’t yell or scold. He prayed, taught gently, and helped people start over with God.

He and Nehemiah (another Bible leader) were like holy teammates—Ezra taught, Nehemiah rebuilt.

He helped re-establish worship, clean up the priesthood, and get families back on track. It was like a holy reset button.

He’s often pictured with a scroll or book—because he helped shape the Bible we know today.

Some even say he helped gather and arrange parts of the Old Testament. If so, big thank you, Ezra!

He fasted and prayed before big decisions. No rushing—he always went to God first.

The Book of Ezra in the Bible tells part of his story. You can also find him in the Book of Nehemiah.

Jewish tradition honors him as a second Moses—he didn’t part the sea, but he brought the Law back to life.

He reminds us that reading Scripture isn’t just for smart people—it’s for everyone.