The Aramaic adverb adrazda (H149) appears in Ezra 7:23 in the decree of Artaxerxes concerning the rebuilding of the temple: "Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done diligently." It is a Persian loanword meaning "with precision" or "exactly as ordered."
It expresses the thoroughness and care with which the royal edict was to be carried out — no shortcuts, no approximations.
The word adrazda in Artaxerxes' decree is a remarkable example of God working through pagan rulers to accomplish His purposes. The Persian king's insistence on diligence in supporting the temple worship reflects the providential ordering behind all of Ezra's mission.
The concept of diligence appears throughout Scripture as a virtue pleasing to God: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (Colossians 3:23). Artaxerxes' diligence in serving Israel's God — even unknowingly — models the total commitment God desires from His own people.