The spelling of the word "II Esdras" is pronounced as "Two-ee Ez-druhz" in IPA phonetic transcription. This word refers to the Old Testament book, also known as "4 Ezra" or "Second Esdras." The spelling, "II Esdras," is derived from the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible, where it was named "2 Esdras," meaning the second book of Ezra. However, the original Hebrew name for this book is "Ezra Nehemiah," which comprises of two separate books in the Hebrew Bible, unlike the Latin version.
II Esdras, also known as the Second Book of Esdras or the Fourth Book of Ezra, is a religious text that belongs to the genre of apocalyptic literature. It is not included in the traditional canon of the Hebrew Bible or the Protestant Old Testament, but it is accepted as part of the biblical apocrypha or deuterocanonical books by certain Christian denominations, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
II Esdras is believed to have been written in the first century CE, originally in Hebrew, and later translated into Greek and Latin. The text consists of a series of visions and dialogues attributed to the biblical figure Ezra during the Babylonian exile.
The book deals with theological and eschatological themes, exploring the concepts of divine judgment, sin, and salvation. It addresses questions about the suffering of the righteous, the nature of evil, and the destiny of humanity. II Esdras presents a vision of the future events and the ultimate restoration of God's people.
The text is characterized by its symbolic and mythological language and vivid descriptions of cosmic phenomena. It contains elements of Jewish wisdom literature and apocalyptic visions, reflecting the anxieties and hopes of the Jewish community during a time of persecution and social upheaval.
Although II Esdras is not widely recognized as part of the biblical canon, it remains an important source for the study of ancient Jewish and Christian literature, providing insights into the religious and cultural milieu of the Greco-Roman period.
The word "II Esdras" has its etymology rooted in biblical texts and historical translations.
The term "Esdras" refers to the biblical figure Ezra, who was a scribe and priest during the Babylonian exile. Ezra was renowned for his role in the restoration of the Jewish community and the reestablishment of religious practices in Jerusalem.
The use of "II" in the term "II Esdras" refers to the fact that it is the second book of the Esdras series or collection. In some versions of the Bible, the book is also known as "4 Esdras" or "2 Esdras" – the numbers denoting its order within different canons.
The book of "II Esdras" itself is a deuterocanonical text, meaning it is not accepted as canonical by all branches of Christianity. It is primarily recognized within the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.