Ezra Chapter 9 — Ezra's Prayer of Confession
Ezra is devastated to learn that the returning exiles have intermarried with local nations, leading him to offer a public prayer of confession.
1Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.”
3When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
5At the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the LORD my God;
6and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
7Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.
9For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10“Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,
11which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land to which you go to possess is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’
13“After all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
14shall we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15LORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold,*“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ezra 9:3
“When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.”
This verse illustrates the depth of Ezra's distress and grief over the people's spiritual compromise.
Ezra 9:8
“Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.”
It acknowledges the mercy of God in allowing the exiles to return and rebuild their lives in the land.
Ezra 9:15
“LORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.”
This concluding statement of Ezra's prayer emphasizes God's righteousness in contrast to the people's guilt.
Chapter Summary
Upon being informed by the princes that the people of Israel, including priests and Levites, had not kept themselves separate from the surrounding nations, Ezra reacts with deep mourning. He tears his clothes and hair, sitting in shock until the evening offering. In a public display of humility, he falls on his knees and prays to God, confessing the recurring sins of the nation from the time of their ancestors to the present. Ezra acknowledges that while God has shown grace by allowing a remnant to return and rebuild the temple, the people have again broken the commandments regarding intermarriage. He highlights God’s justice and mercy, noting that they have been punished less than their sins deserve. The prayer concludes with a somber admission of guilt, stating that the people stand before God in their trespass, unable to justify themselves in His presence because of their unfaithfulness to the covenant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ezra was distressed because the returning exiles, including leaders and priests, had intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations. This was seen as a violation of the commandments intended to keep the people's faith distinct and dedicated to God.
He expressed his grief through outward signs of mourning, such as tearing his garments and pulling hair from his head and beard. He sat in silence until the evening sacrifice, at which point he offered a public prayer of confession on behalf of the nation.
Ezra acknowledges that God has been merciful and patient. He states that God has punished the people less than their iniquities deserved and has provided a remnant to return and find a 'stake' in the holy place.
Study Note
Ezra’s prayer is distinctive because he uses corporate language like 'we' and 'our,' identifying himself with the people's guilt despite his personal faithfulness.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.