This verse describes a powerful scene of repentance and prayer. Let's break it down:
"Then rising up from the fast...": This indicates that the speaker had been fasting. Fasting was a common practice in Judaism, often undertaken during times of sorrow, repentance, or seeking God's favor. It signified a humbling of oneself before God.
"...with my clothes and my holy garment tore...": Tearing one's clothes was a traditional sign of grief, distress, and repentance in ancient cultures, including Jewish culture. The "holy garment" likely refers to the outer garment worn by a priest or someone with a sacred role, intensifying the sense of humility and the speaker's unworthiness before God. Tearing such a garment would be a particularly dramatic and solemn act.
"...and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands to the Lord...": These are physical postures of prayer and supplication. Bowing the knees is a sign of humility and submission. Stretching forth the hands (palms upward) is a gesture of pleading and reaching out for divine help.
Overall Meaning:
The verse depicts someone deeply distressed and repentant, who has been fasting and now dramatically demonstrates their contrition before God. They express their grief and humility through outward actions: tearing their clothes (including a sacred garment) and assuming a posture of prayer (bowing and stretching out their hands). This entire scene is a plea to God for mercy and forgiveness. It highlights the speaker's recognition of their own sin or the sins of the people they represent. The intensity of the actions suggests a grave situation.
Context from 1 Esdras:
To fully understand the verse, you need to consider the context of 1 Esdras (also known as 3 Ezra). This book is considered apocryphal by many Protestant denominations but is part of the canon for Orthodox and Catholic Christians. It's a historical narrative that largely parallels the accounts in the Hebrew Bible books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The passage is likely about Ezra, a scribe and priest, expressing deep sorrow and repentance for the sins of the Israelites, particularly their intermarriage with foreign nations, after their return from exile in Babylon. Therefore, the "holy garment" could symbolize the priesthood and the covenant between God and the people. Ezra is leading the people in a collective act of contrition.
In summary, the verse illustrates a profound moment of repentance and supplication to God, expressed through both symbolic actions and physical gestures of prayer.
This verse describes a powerful scene of repentance and prayer. Let's break it down:
"Then rising up from the fast...": This indicates that the speaker had been fasting. Fasting was a common practice in Judaism, often undertaken during times of sorrow, repentance, or seeking God's favor. It signified a humbling of oneself before God.
"...with my clothes and my holy garment tore...": Tearing one's clothes was a traditional sign of grief, distress, and repentance in ancient cultures, including Jewish culture. The "holy garment" likely refers to the outer garment worn by a priest or someone with a sacred role, intensifying the sense of humility and the speaker's unworthiness before God. Tearing such a garment would be a particularly dramatic and solemn act.
"...and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands to the Lord...": These are physical postures of prayer and supplication. Bowing the knees is a sign of humility and submission. Stretching forth the hands (palms upward) is a gesture of pleading and reaching out for divine help.
Overall Meaning:
The verse depicts someone deeply distressed and repentant, who has been fasting and now dramatically demonstrates their contrition before God. They express their grief and humility through outward actions: tearing their clothes (including a sacred garment) and assuming a posture of prayer (bowing and stretching out their hands). This entire scene is a plea to God for mercy and forgiveness. It highlights the speaker's recognition of their own sin or the sins of the people they represent. The intensity of the actions suggests a grave situation.
Context from 1 Esdras:
To fully understand the verse, you need to consider the context of 1 Esdras (also known as 3 Ezra). This book is considered apocryphal by many Protestant denominations but is part of the canon for Orthodox and Catholic Christians. It's a historical narrative that largely parallels the accounts in the Hebrew Bible books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The passage is likely about Ezra, a scribe and priest, expressing deep sorrow and repentance for the sins of the Israelites, particularly their intermarriage with foreign nations, after their return from exile in Babylon. Therefore, the "holy garment" could symbolize the priesthood and the covenant between God and the people. Ezra is leading the people in a collective act of contrition.
In summary, the verse illustrates a profound moment of repentance and supplication to God, expressed through both symbolic actions and physical gestures of prayer.