Ezra 7:28 - and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
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What does "Ezra 7:28" mean?
This verse from Ezra 7:28, spoken by Ezra, is an expression of gratitude and a testament to divine favor. Let's break down what it means:
"And has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes." This is the core of the verse. It highlights that God's chesed (loving-kindness, mercy, grace, steadfast love) was manifested in a very public and impactful way. Ezra is acknowledging that he experienced favor in the eyes of King Artaxerxes of Persia (the "king"), his advisors ("counselors"), and his high-ranking officials ("mighty princes"). The fact that this happened "before" them suggests it was obvious to all that Ezra was receiving special treatment and consideration. This favor was crucial for Ezra to gain permission and resources to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
"I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me..." Ezra attributes his strength and ability to carry out this daunting task to God's active involvement. The "hand" of God is a common biblical metaphor for God's power, guidance, and blessing. He's saying that God empowered him, both physically and spiritually, to undertake this important mission.
"...and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me." As a result of this divine empowerment and the favorable position he had gained, Ezra was able to recruit influential leaders ("chief men") from among the Jewish exiles in Babylon to join him in returning to Jerusalem. These "chief men" were important for the success of the return and rebuilding effort, providing leadership, skills, and resources.
In summary, Ezra 7:28 is a powerful statement of faith. It emphasizes that God's loving-kindness, manifested through the favor of a foreign king and the empowerment of Ezra himself, enabled him to gather the necessary support to return to Jerusalem and begin the work of restoration.
Ezra 7:28 - and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
What does "Ezra 7:28" mean?
This verse from Ezra 7:28, spoken by Ezra, is an expression of gratitude and a testament to divine favor. Let's break down what it means:
"And has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes." This is the core of the verse. It highlights that God's chesed (loving-kindness, mercy, grace, steadfast love) was manifested in a very public and impactful way. Ezra is acknowledging that he experienced favor in the eyes of King Artaxerxes of Persia (the "king"), his advisors ("counselors"), and his high-ranking officials ("mighty princes"). The fact that this happened "before" them suggests it was obvious to all that Ezra was receiving special treatment and consideration. This favor was crucial for Ezra to gain permission and resources to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
"I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me..." Ezra attributes his strength and ability to carry out this daunting task to God's active involvement. The "hand" of God is a common biblical metaphor for God's power, guidance, and blessing. He's saying that God empowered him, both physically and spiritually, to undertake this important mission.
"...and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me." As a result of this divine empowerment and the favorable position he had gained, Ezra was able to recruit influential leaders ("chief men") from among the Jewish exiles in Babylon to join him in returning to Jerusalem. These "chief men" were important for the success of the return and rebuilding effort, providing leadership, skills, and resources.
In summary, Ezra 7:28 is a powerful statement of faith. It emphasizes that God's loving-kindness, manifested through the favor of a foreign king and the empowerment of Ezra himself, enabled him to gather the necessary support to return to Jerusalem and begin the work of restoration.