Ezra 9:5 - At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God;
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What does "Ezra 9:5" mean?
This verse from Ezra 9:5 is a powerful expression of grief, shame, and desperate prayer. Let's break down the meaning:
"At the evening offering": This specifies the time of day. The evening offering was a regular sacrificial ritual in the Temple. Choosing this time suggests Ezra is acting publicly and taking his concerns directly to God at a time of established worship.
"I arose up from my humiliation": This implies Ezra had been in a state of deep distress and shame. The nature of this humiliation is revealed in the preceding verses: he has learned that many of the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem from exile have intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations. This was a direct violation of God's law, threatening the purity of the Jewish lineage and their covenant with God.
"even with my garment and my robe torn": Tearing one's clothes was a common ancient Jewish expression of profound grief, mourning, and repentance. It physically symbolized the brokenness and distress Ezra felt over the people's sin. It's a visible display of his inward state.
"and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God": This describes a posture of humility and supplication in prayer. Kneeling was a gesture of submission and reverence before God. Spreading out his hands was a gesture of pleading, longing, and openness to receive God's mercy and intervention. The phrase "Yahweh my God" underscores Ezra's personal relationship with God and his conviction that God is the one who can address this crisis.
In summary, this verse depicts Ezra's anguished reaction to the news of the Israelites' intermarriage. He is overwhelmed by the gravity of their sin and the potential consequences for the community's relationship with God. He expresses his sorrow and repentance through outward signs of mourning and humility, and he turns to God in prayer, pleading for forgiveness and restoration.
The verse highlights the following key themes:
Grief and Mourning over Sin: Ezra is not just mildly concerned; he is deeply affected by the people's disobedience.
Repentance: He identifies with the sin of the people and expresses sorrow for it.
Humility: He approaches God in a posture of complete submission.
Prayer and Intercession: He acts as a mediator, pleading with God on behalf of the people.
The Importance of Covenant Fidelity: The intermarriage is seen as a betrayal of the covenant God made with Israel.
This scene sets the stage for Ezra's powerful prayer in the following verses, where he confesses the sins of the people and asks for God's mercy. His actions and words are a model of how to respond to sin within a community and how to seek God's forgiveness.
Ezra 9:5 - At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God;
What does "Ezra 9:5" mean?
This verse from Ezra 9:5 is a powerful expression of grief, shame, and desperate prayer. Let's break down the meaning:
"At the evening offering": This specifies the time of day. The evening offering was a regular sacrificial ritual in the Temple. Choosing this time suggests Ezra is acting publicly and taking his concerns directly to God at a time of established worship.
"I arose up from my humiliation": This implies Ezra had been in a state of deep distress and shame. The nature of this humiliation is revealed in the preceding verses: he has learned that many of the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem from exile have intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations. This was a direct violation of God's law, threatening the purity of the Jewish lineage and their covenant with God.
"even with my garment and my robe torn": Tearing one's clothes was a common ancient Jewish expression of profound grief, mourning, and repentance. It physically symbolized the brokenness and distress Ezra felt over the people's sin. It's a visible display of his inward state.
"and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God": This describes a posture of humility and supplication in prayer. Kneeling was a gesture of submission and reverence before God. Spreading out his hands was a gesture of pleading, longing, and openness to receive God's mercy and intervention. The phrase "Yahweh my God" underscores Ezra's personal relationship with God and his conviction that God is the one who can address this crisis.
In summary, this verse depicts Ezra's anguished reaction to the news of the Israelites' intermarriage. He is overwhelmed by the gravity of their sin and the potential consequences for the community's relationship with God. He expresses his sorrow and repentance through outward signs of mourning and humility, and he turns to God in prayer, pleading for forgiveness and restoration.
The verse highlights the following key themes:
Grief and Mourning over Sin: Ezra is not just mildly concerned; he is deeply affected by the people's disobedience.
Repentance: He identifies with the sin of the people and expresses sorrow for it.
Humility: He approaches God in a posture of complete submission.
Prayer and Intercession: He acts as a mediator, pleading with God on behalf of the people.
The Importance of Covenant Fidelity: The intermarriage is seen as a betrayal of the covenant God made with Israel.
This scene sets the stage for Ezra's powerful prayer in the following verses, where he confesses the sins of the people and asks for God's mercy. His actions and words are a model of how to respond to sin within a community and how to seek God's forgiveness.