Ezra 9:8

Translations

Modern

But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

Traditional

And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

Literal

And for a little while grace has come from YHWH our God, to leave a remnant to us to escape, and to give us a stake in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little revival in our bondage.

Latin

Et nunc quasi parum et ad momentum facta est deprecatio nostra apud Dominum Deum nostrum, ut dimitterentur nobis reliquiæ, et daretur nobis paxillus in loco sancto ejus, et illuminaret oculos nostros Deus noster, et daret nobis vitam modicam in servitute nostra:

Original

Hebrew

English

But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

Notes

Ezra 9:8–9

God's abundant grace and unfailing love should influence how people respond to him (see Deuteronomy 30:1–5). After all God had done for the remnant, it was shameful they were so quick to betray him.
grace in the sight of the kings of Persia: Babylon and Assyria had tortured and exiled their enemies (2 Kings 17; 25), but Persia treated exiled people kindly and returned them to their homelands (see Ezra 1:1–3).
a wall of protection: This phrase refers to God's presence protecting the nation of Judah, not the physical walls of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah rebuilt several years later.

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 Grace of God The Remnant What Is Good

Related verses

Psalm 13:3
Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
Romans 11:5–6
In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
Psalm 85:6
Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
Habakkuk 3:2
O LORD, I have heard the report of You; I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds. Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy!
Ezekiel 37:11–14
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
Jeremiah 42:2
Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.
Isaiah 22:23–25
I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father.
Ezekiel 6:8–9
Yet I will leave a remnant, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the nations and throughout the lands.
Ezekiel 14:22
Yet, behold, some survivors will be left in it—sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their conduct and actions, you will be comforted regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—all that I have brought upon it.
Revelation 3:12
The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.

Glossary

Book of Ezra Elephantine Papyri First Book of Esdras

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Benefits of, Illustrated Church: Holy Place God: Mercy of Intercession: Additional Instances of Ezra, for Israel Nail: Figurative Remnant Repentance: should be Accompanied by Shame and Confusion The Eye: God: Enlightens

Ezra 9:8

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