Is 1 Esdras in the King James Bible?
Yes — it was included in the Apocrypha of the original 1611 KJV. Most modern KJV editions omit the Apocrypha.
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1 Esdras — Free PDF Study Guide
A clear, scholarly introduction to 1 Esdras — the nine-chapter Greek alternative version of the events covered in 2 Chronicles 35–36, Ezra, and parts of Nehemiah, with one famous addition: the contest of the three young bodyguards of King Darius and Zerubbabel's great speech 'Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.' Included in the 1611 KJV Apocrypha.
An original Bible Sundays study companion. The full 1611 KJV text of 1 Esdras is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
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- How 1 Esdras parallels 2 Chronicles 35 – Nehemiah 8
- The contest of Darius's three bodyguards (chapters 3–4)
- Zerubbabel's speech: 'Great is Truth, and mighty above all things'
- Status in the KJV, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant canons
- Why Eastern Orthodox count it as canonical 'Esdras A'
What you get
How 1 Esdras parallels 2 Chronicles 35 – Nehemiah 8
The contest of Darius's three bodyguards (chapters 3–4)
Zerubbabel's speech: 'Great is Truth, and mighty above all things'
Status in the KJV, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant canons
Why Eastern Orthodox count it as canonical 'Esdras A'
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What is 1 Esdras?
1 Esdras is a nine-chapter Greek work that retells the events covered in 2 Chronicles 35–36, Ezra, and parts of Nehemiah, with one famous additional story — the contest of the three young bodyguards of King Darius (chapters 3–4), at the end of which Zerubbabel is permitted to lead the return to Jerusalem. The book was composed in Greek in the late second or early first century BC and is generally regarded as an early variant edition of the return-from-exile narrative rather than an independent history.
Where it sits in the canon
1 Esdras was included in the Apocrypha of the original 1611 King James Bible. Eastern Orthodox tradition treats it as canonical Scripture (where it is called 'Esdras A' or simply 'Esdras'). Roman Catholic tradition places it among the apocrypha rather than the deuterocanonical books. Protestants follow the Hebrew canon, which contains only the canonical Ezra and Nehemiah.
Why this book matters for Bible readers today
The most famous passage in 1 Esdras — Zerubbabel's speech in 4:33–41 — ends with the saying 'Great is Truth, and mighty above all things,' which in Latin (Magna est veritas, et praevalet) has echoed through Christian and Western literature for two thousand years. The book also preserves alternative textual readings that are useful for understanding the return from exile, and gives a fuller account of Josiah's Passover (1 Esdras 1) than the parallel in 2 Chronicles 35.
Frequently asked questions
How is 1 Esdras different from the canonical book of Ezra?
It covers roughly the same period as 2 Chronicles 35 – Nehemiah 8, but in a different order and with the additional bodyguards story in chapters 3–4. It is best read as an early variant edition rather than a fresh history.
What is the contest of the three bodyguards?
Three young men in Darius's court debate what is the strongest thing in the world — wine, the king, or women. The third, Zerubbabel, wins by adding 'But above all things, Truth beareth away the victory,' for which Darius grants him the right to lead the return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Is 1 Esdras canonical for Eastern Orthodox Christians?
Yes — most Eastern Orthodox traditions include 1 Esdras (often called 'Esdras A') in their Old Testament canon.
Why are there so many 'Esdras' books?
Different traditions number them differently. The naming convention can be confusing: in the KJV Apocrypha, 1 Esdras is this book and 2 Esdras is the later apocalypse (4 Ezra in scholarly literature). In the Vulgate, Ezra and Nehemiah are 1 and 2 Esdras, and the Apocryphal books become 3 and 4 Esdras.
When was 1 Esdras written?
Most scholars date the Greek composition to the late second or early first century BC, though it incorporates much older material.
Where can I read the full text of 1 Esdras?
The complete 1611 KJV translation of 1 Esdras is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
Can I share this study guide?
Yes. This Bible Sundays study guide is free to share for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
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Word Meaning
Firstborn (בְּכוֹר (bekhor))
The first child — holding a position of preeminence, authority, and double inheritance.
Biblical names and their meanings
Every name below appears in the King James Bible. Each page gives the meaning, the verse it appears in, and who carried it in Scripture.
- NaomiPleasant or my delight
- NaomiPleasant; My delight
- NaomiPleasantness; My delight
- NathanHe gave
- NathanaelGift of God
- NathanielGift of God
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