Focused Passage

Ezra 8:21-23

Ezra Leads the Return with Fasting, Trust, and Sacred Stewardship

Ezra gathers the returnees, secures Levites for temple service, humbles the people in fasting for God's protection, entrusts sacred treasures to faithful priests, and arrives safely in Jerusalem by the gracious hand of God.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”

23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 20:3 Classic cross-references Psalms 121:8 Classic cross-references Joel 1:14 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 7:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 30:21 Classic cross-references

Original words

And there by עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Ahava אַהֲוָ֔א H163 Noun - proper - feminine singular Canal הַנָּהָ֣ר H5104 Article | Noun - masculine singular I proclaimed וָאֶקְרָ֨א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular . . . שָׁ֥ם H8033 Adverb a fast צוֹם֙ H6685 Noun - masculine singular so that we might humble לְהִתְעַנּ֖וֹת H6031 Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct ourselves before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct our God אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural and ask Him for לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ H1245 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct . . . מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular a safe יְשָׁרָ֔ה H3477 Adjective - feminine singular journey דֶּ֣רֶךְ H1870 Noun - common singular for us לָ֥נוּ Preposition | first person common plural and our children וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ H2945 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural with all וּלְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct our possessions רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ׃ H7399 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural

Verse 22

Cross-references

1 Peter 3:12 Classic cross-references Psalms 33:18 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 16:9 Classic cross-references Psalms 34:15 Classic cross-references Lamentations 3:25 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction I was ashamed בֹ֗שְׁתִּי H954 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to ask the king הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular for לִשְׁא֤וֹל H7592 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct an [escort of] soldiers חַ֣יִל H2428 Noun - masculine singular and horsemen וּפָרָשִׁ֔ים H6571 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural to protect us לְעָזְרֵ֥נוּ H5826 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural from מִן־ H4480 Preposition our enemies מֵאוֹיֵ֖ב H341 Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular on the road בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular since כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction we had told him אָמַ֨רְנוּ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural . . . לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ H4428 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֗ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct The hand יַד־ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct of our God אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural is gracious לְטוֹבָ֔ה H2896 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular to עַל־ H5921 Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct who seek Him מְבַקְשָׁיו֙ H1245 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular but His great וְעֻזּ֣וֹ H5797 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular anger וְאַפּ֔וֹ H639 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular is against עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct who forsake Him עֹזְבָֽיו׃ H5800 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Jeremiah 29:12 Classic cross-references Genesis 25:21 Classic cross-references Matthew 7:7 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 33:12 Classic cross-references Ezra 8:31 Classic cross-references

Original words

So we fasted וַנָּצ֛וּמָה H6684 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural | third person feminine singular and petitioned וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה H1245 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural | third person feminine singular our God מֵאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ H430 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural about עַל־ H5921 Preposition this זֹ֑את H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular and He granted our request וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר H6279 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular

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