Ezra 9:4 - Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Ezra 9:4" mean?
This verse from Ezra 9:4 describes a moment of deep distress and reflection following the return of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity. Let's break it down:
"Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel..." This refers to those Jews who were deeply pious and respectful of God's law and commandments. They were disturbed by the news that the Israelites who had returned to Jerusalem had intermarried with the people of the land, a direct violation of God's law. "Trembled" implies a deep reverence and fear of disobeying God.
"...were assembled to me..." "Me" refers to Ezra. People who shared his concern about the sin of intermarriage gathered around him. This suggests Ezra was a leader or someone respected for his piety.
"...because of the trespass of the captivity..." This is the core of the issue. "Trespass" refers to the sin that the returning exiles were committing by intermarrying with non-Israelites. This act was seen as repeating the sins that led to the Babylonian captivity in the first place. "Of the captivity" clarifies that the sin was reminiscent of the kind that led to the exile.
"...and I sat confounded until the evening offering." "Confounded" means deeply ashamed, bewildered, and dismayed. Ezra was so disturbed by the sin he had learned about that he sat in a state of shock and mourning. "Until the evening offering" marks the time he remained in this state. The evening offering was a daily sacrifice offered in the Temple, and it was a significant point in the day for religious observance. The fact that Ezra was in this state until then shows how deeply affected he was.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of:
Deep spiritual concern: Some Jews were deeply troubled by the sin of intermarriage among the returning exiles.
Ezra's grief and leadership: Ezra, a respected figure, was overwhelmed with shame and dismay at the news.
A re-emergence of old sins: The sin of intermarriage was seen as a repeat of the offenses that led to the Babylonian exile.
The verse sets the stage for Ezra's prayer of confession and repentance, as he grapples with the implications of this sin for the future of the Jewish community. It highlights the tension between the desire to rebuild the nation and the need to maintain religious purity and obedience to God's law.
Ezra 9:4 - Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
What does "Ezra 9:4" mean?
This verse from Ezra 9:4 describes a moment of deep distress and reflection following the return of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity. Let's break it down:
"Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel..." This refers to those Jews who were deeply pious and respectful of God's law and commandments. They were disturbed by the news that the Israelites who had returned to Jerusalem had intermarried with the people of the land, a direct violation of God's law. "Trembled" implies a deep reverence and fear of disobeying God.
"...were assembled to me..." "Me" refers to Ezra. People who shared his concern about the sin of intermarriage gathered around him. This suggests Ezra was a leader or someone respected for his piety.
"...because of the trespass of the captivity..." This is the core of the issue. "Trespass" refers to the sin that the returning exiles were committing by intermarrying with non-Israelites. This act was seen as repeating the sins that led to the Babylonian captivity in the first place. "Of the captivity" clarifies that the sin was reminiscent of the kind that led to the exile.
"...and I sat confounded until the evening offering." "Confounded" means deeply ashamed, bewildered, and dismayed. Ezra was so disturbed by the sin he had learned about that he sat in a state of shock and mourning. "Until the evening offering" marks the time he remained in this state. The evening offering was a daily sacrifice offered in the Temple, and it was a significant point in the day for religious observance. The fact that Ezra was in this state until then shows how deeply affected he was.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of:
Deep spiritual concern: Some Jews were deeply troubled by the sin of intermarriage among the returning exiles.
Ezra's grief and leadership: Ezra, a respected figure, was overwhelmed with shame and dismay at the news.
A re-emergence of old sins: The sin of intermarriage was seen as a repeat of the offenses that led to the Babylonian exile.
The verse sets the stage for Ezra's prayer of confession and repentance, as he grapples with the implications of this sin for the future of the Jewish community. It highlights the tension between the desire to rebuild the nation and the need to maintain religious purity and obedience to God's law.