2 esdras 4:6 - Then answered I and said, who of the sons of men is able to do this, that you should ask me of such things?

Generated Verse: 2 esdras 4:6

What does "2 esdras 4:6" mean?


In 2 Esdras 4:6, Esdras is overwhelmed and questioning God's request for him to understand profound and complex matters. The verse breaks down as follows:

"Then answered I and said...": This indicates that Esdras is responding to a question or a challenge previously posed to him (in the preceding verses).

"...who of the sons of men is able to do this...": This is the core of Esdras's response. He is expressing his inadequacy and, by extension, the inadequacy of humanity in general. He's essentially saying, "No one is capable of what you are asking me."

"...that you should ask me of such things?": This adds to the sentiment of inadequacy, emphasizing the difficulty of the task. Esdras finds the request to be so beyond human comprehension that he is taken aback.

Overall Meaning:

Esdras is protesting, humbly but firmly, that the task or question he's been given is beyond human capacity. He acknowledges his limitations and the limitations of all humanity to understand the divine or tackle exceptionally complex issues. It reflects a sense of awe and humility before God's wisdom and power, and also a sense of bewilderment at being asked to do something that seems impossible.

What categories does "2 esdras 4:6" have?