Ezra 9:6

Translations

Modern

…and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.

Traditional

And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

Literal

…and I said, “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up, my God, my face to You, for our iniquities have risen higher than the head, and our guilt has grown up as far as to the heavens.

Latin

Et dixi: Deus meus, confundor et erubesco levare faciem meam ad te: quoniam iniquitates nostræ multiplicatæ sunt super caput nostrum, et delicta nostra creverunt usque ad cælum,

Original

Hebrew

English

…and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.

Notes

Ezra 9:6

I am ashamed...our iniquities are higher than our heads: Although Ezra did not commit these sins, he identified with his people (see “Community Identity” Theme Note).

Ezra 9:6–15

Ezra’s prayer serves as a model for intercessory prayer (compare Nehemiah 1:5–11; Daniel 9:4–19). It involves:

Confessing sin (Ezra 9:6–7)
Recalling God’s past kindness (Ezra 9:8–9)
Admitting the people have ignored God (Ezra 9:10–12)
Acknowledging their unworthiness (Ezra 9:13–15)

Ezra 9:1–10:44

Ezra addressed the issue of marrying idol-worshipping foreigners. The Jewish leaders had permitted this practice, even though the early settlers had promised to stay away from pagan influences (Ezra 4:1–5). Ezra prayed for the nation and assisted those who felt guilty about their sins to correct their actions.

Theme notes and profiles

Ezra Community Responsibility: Achan’s Sin God Works through Prayer Intermarriage and Divorce Purity and Identity The Remnant What Is Good

Related verses

Revelation 18:5
For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Psalm 38:4
For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.
2 Chronicles 28:9
But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
Job 42:6
Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”
Ezra 9:15
O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”
Luke 15:21
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Jeremiah 3:24–25
From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.
Jeremiah 6:15
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:19
After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
Job 40:4
“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.
Romans 6:21
What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.

Glossary

Book of Ezra Elephantine Papyri First Book of Esdras

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Benefits of, Illustrated Blushing with Shame Confession of Sin: Ezra Intercession: Additional Instances of Ezra, for Israel Prayer: Confession In Prayer: Ezra Prayer: Importunity In Private Prayer: Ezra Repentance: Exemplified Repentance: should be Accompanied by Shame and Confusion Sin: Confession of

Ezra 9:6

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics