2 esdras 10:41 - The woman which appeared to you a little while ago, whom you saw mourning, and began to comfort her:

Generated Verse: 2 esdras 10:41

What does "2 esdras 10:41" mean?


2 Esdras 10:41, "The woman which appeared to you a little while ago, whom you saw mourning, and began to comfort her:" refers to a vision Ezra (the author of 2 Esdras) had in the preceding chapters. The verse is part of an angel's explanation of that vision. Let's break down the meaning:

"The woman which appeared to you a little while ago...": This directly references a vision Ezra had earlier in 2 Esdras 10:5-27. In that vision, Ezra saw a woman deeply distressed and mourning.

"...whom you saw mourning, and began to comfort her:": This reminds Ezra that he attempted to console the grieving woman. He offered words of sympathy and tried to understand her sorrow.

The Symbolic Meaning (Critical for Understanding the Verse):

The key to understanding this verse is recognizing that the woman in Ezra's vision is not a literal person. She is a symbol for Zion (Jerusalem) and, more broadly, the Jewish people lamenting the destruction of the Temple and the exile to Babylon.

Therefore, the angel's words in 2 Esdras 10:41 serve as a bridge, reminding Ezra of the previous vision and preparing him for the symbolic interpretation that is about to be given. The act of Ezra comforting the woman symbolizes God's intention to console and restore Zion after its suffering.

In Summary:

The verse reminds Ezra of his earlier vision of the mourning woman, whom he tried to comfort. It's a setup, leading to the angel's explanation that the woman represents Zion, grieving over the destruction and exile, but destined to be comforted and restored by God. The verse is thus a crucial link in understanding the symbolic meaning of the entire vision.