Ezra 9:3

KJV

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when I heard {H8085} this thing {H1697}, I rent {H7167} my garment {H899} and my mantle {H4598}, and plucked off {H4803} the hair {H8181} of my head {H7218} and of my beard {H2206}, and sat down {H3427} astonied {H8074}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When I heard this, I tore my robe and tunic, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down in shock.

Berean Standard Bible

When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.

American Standard Version

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 9:3 captures the prophet and scribe Ezra's profoundly visceral reaction to the news of the returned exiles' widespread intermarriage with pagan peoples, a direct violation of God's covenant commands. His extreme acts of tearing his garments and mantle, plucking hair from his head and beard, and sitting "astonied" vividly convey his overwhelming grief, shock, and spiritual desolation at the community's immediate relapse into a sin that had historically led to Israel's judgment and exile. This passage underscores Ezra's deep zeal for God's holiness and the purity of His people, illustrating the gravity of their disobedience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 9:3 immediately follows the devastating report brought to Ezra by the leaders of Israel (Ezra 9:1-2). They inform him that the people, including priests and Levites—those who should have been guardians of the Law—had not separated themselves from the surrounding pagan nations. Instead, they had taken wives from among the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites, and had even mingled their holy seed with these peoples. This news, coming after the joyous return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding efforts, represents a profound spiritual crisis. Ezra's reaction is the first, immediate, and most intense response recorded, setting the stage for his subsequent prayer of confession and the difficult reforms that follow in [Ezra 10](/ezra/10 "Ezra 10 - Confession and Reform"). His personal anguish reflects the spiritual brokenness of the entire community.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Ezra 9 occur in the post-exilic period, likely around 458 BC, during the reign of Artaxerxes I. The Jewish people had only recently returned to Judah from their seventy-year captivity in Babylon, a judgment largely understood as a consequence of their persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The command against intermarriage with pagan nations was ancient and foundational, explicitly given in passages like [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Command Against Intermarriage") and [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warnings Against Covenant with Inhabitants of the Land"). The purpose was not racial purity but spiritual preservation: to prevent Israel from being led astray into idolatry and to maintain their distinct identity as God's holy people, a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" ([Exodus 19:6](/exodus/19-6 "Exodus 19:6 - Israel as a Holy Nation")). Ezra's physical expressions of grief—tearing garments, plucking hair—were culturally recognized signs of extreme sorrow, horror, and lament in the ancient Near East, signifying profound distress or identification with a calamity.

* **Key Themes:** Ezra's reaction in this verse powerfully highlights several key themes central to the book of Ezra and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the **seriousness of covenant disobedience**, particularly regarding the purity of God's people and the dangers of syncretism. The intermarriage was not merely a social misstep but a direct affront to God's holiness and a threat to Israel's spiritual identity, echoing the very sins that led to the exile. This also underscores the theme of **corporate responsibility and lament**, as Ezra, though personally innocent of this particular sin, identifies deeply with the sin of the nation and expresses profound spiritual agony on their behalf. His zeal for God's Law and the holiness of the covenant people is another prominent theme, demonstrating the profound grief that true faithfulness can provoke in the face of widespread spiritual compromise. This passage serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for **spiritual separation and distinctiveness** for God's people in a fallen world, a theme echoed throughout the Old and New Testaments, for instance, in [2 Corinthians 6:14-18](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Rent (Hebrew, _qaraʿ_):** This verb signifies a violent tearing or ripping. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, tearing one's outer garment was a common, highly visible expression of intense grief, shock, horror, or indignation. It symbolized a breaking or rending of the heart or spirit, a dramatic display of internal anguish made manifest. Ezra's act of tearing both his "garment" (outer robe) and "mantle" (a cloak or inner garment) indicates an extreme, almost desperate, level of distress, going beyond a mere conventional display of sorrow.
* **Plucked (Hebrew, _maraṭ_):** This verb means to pull out, pluck off, or make bald. The act of plucking hair from the head and beard was an even more severe and humiliating expression of lament than tearing clothes. It signified profound self-abasement, extreme humiliation, and a deep sense of despair or identification with a great calamity or sin. It was a visible sign of utter desolation and a personal sharing in the disgrace of the nation, reflecting a complete emotional and spiritual collapse.
* **Astonied (Hebrew, _šāmam_):** This powerful verb conveys a state of being desolate, appalled, stupefied, or dumbfounded. It describes a profound, almost paralyzing shock that leaves one utterly overwhelmed and speechless by the magnitude or devastation of an event. Ezra was not merely surprised or disappointed; he was utterly devastated, rendered motionless and speechless by the enormity of the people's transgression. This word highlights the depth of his spiritual agony and the profound sense of hopelessness he felt at that moment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when I heard this thing,"**: This clause immediately establishes the catalyst for Ezra's extreme reaction. "This thing" refers to the report detailed in [Ezra 9:1-2](/ezra/9-1 "Ezra 9:1-2 - The Report of Intermarriage"), specifically the widespread intermarriage of the returned exiles, including the priests and Levites, with the pagan peoples of the land. The phrase underscores the sudden and shocking nature of the revelation to Ezra, who had likely held high hopes for the spiritual purity of the restored community.
* **"I rent my garment and my mantle,"**: This describes Ezra's initial, culturally significant act of profound grief and horror. Tearing both his outer garment (simlah) and his mantle (meʿîl), which was often a more distinguished or priestly robe, signifies an extraordinary depth of anguish. It was a public and unmistakable declaration of his utter dismay and spiritual agony over the people's sin, symbolizing a tearing of the very fabric of their covenant relationship with God.
* **"and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard,"**: This action intensifies the display of distress, moving beyond conventional mourning practices to an act of extreme self-abasement and identification with national disgrace. Plucking hair from the head and beard was a sign of utter humiliation, deep despair, and a visceral sharing in the shame and brokenness brought about by the people's transgression. It indicates a complete emotional and spiritual breakdown, far exceeding mere disappointment or anger.
* **"and sat down astonied."**: Following his violent physical expressions of grief, Ezra's final action is to sit down in a state of profound, paralyzed shock. The word "astonied" (šāmam) conveys a sense of desolation and stupefaction, suggesting that the enormity of the sin rendered him speechless and immobile. He was overwhelmed, perhaps feeling a sense of utter hopelessness or despair at the depth of the people's spiritual compromise so soon after their return from exile, a judgment for similar sins.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 9:3 powerfully employs several **literary devices** to convey the intensity of Ezra's reaction. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, as Ezra's actions—tearing two layers of clothing and plucking hair from his head and beard—are an exaggerated yet culturally understood demonstration of extreme anguish, far beyond typical sorrow. This hyperbole effectively communicates the profound horror and despair he felt. **Symbolism** is also central: the torn garments symbolize the rending of the covenant relationship and the spiritual brokenness of the nation, while the plucked hair signifies deep humiliation, self-abasement, and identification with the people's disgrace. The phrase "sat down astonied" uses **Pathos**, evoking a strong sense of pity and empathy in the reader for Ezra's overwhelming grief and the tragic state of the people. The vivid, almost shocking imagery creates a powerful emotional impact, underscoring the gravity of the sin and Ezra's unwavering commitment to God's holiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra's profound reaction in this verse serves as a powerful theological statement about the seriousness of sin, particularly covenant unfaithfulness. His grief is not merely personal disappointment but a deep spiritual agony rooted in a profound understanding of God's holiness and the sanctity of the covenant. It highlights that sin, especially against clear divine commands, should provoke deep spiritual distress in those who truly reverence God. Ezra's lament also underscores the concept of corporate solidarity and identification with the sin of the community, a theme seen throughout Scripture where righteous individuals intercede and mourn for the sins of their people. This passage reminds us that true spiritual leadership often involves keenly feeling the spiritual pulse of the community and lamenting over its disobedience, rather than merely condemning from a distance. It calls believers to a similar sensitivity to sin and a zeal for God's glory and the purity of His people.

* [Job 1:20](/job/1-20 "Job 1:20 - Job's Response to Tragedy")
* [Jeremiah 41:5](/jeremiah/41-5 "Jeremiah 41:5 - Men with Torn Garments")
* [Nehemiah 1:4](/nehemiah/1-4 "Nehemiah 1:4 - Nehemiah's Grief and Prayer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra's visceral reaction to the spiritual compromise of his people offers a profound challenge and model for believers today. It compels us to consider our own sensitivity to sin, both individually and corporately. In a world often characterized by indifference or a casual attitude towards moral and spiritual compromise, Ezra's "astonied" state reminds us that sin, particularly against God's clear commands, should evoke a deep spiritual distress and a holy grief. Are we truly grieved by the sins within the church or our own lives, or have we become desensitized? This passage also speaks to the nature of spiritual leadership, calling those in positions of influence not just to teach or correct, but to genuinely lament over the spiritual condition of their flock, identifying with their struggles and failures. Ultimately, Ezra's response underscores the enduring importance of maintaining spiritual purity and distinctness from worldly influences, just as Israel was called to be set apart. Our response to sin, whether personal or corporate, should reflect a profound reverence for God's holiness and a passionate desire for His people to walk in integrity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific sins in your own life or within your community provoke a similar sense of grief or "astonishment" in you, as Ezra experienced?**
* **How can individual believers cultivate a deeper sensitivity to sin and a greater zeal for God's holiness, mirroring Ezra's reaction?**
* **In what ways might spiritual leaders today be called to "rent their garments" or "pluck their hair" metaphorically, identifying with and lamenting over the spiritual compromises of their communities?**
* **How does the call to "separation" from worldly influences, as seen in Ezra's concern about intermarriage, apply to believers in a contemporary context?**

### FAQ

**Why was intermarriage such a serious sin, provoking such an extreme reaction from Ezra?**

Answer: Intermarriage was not merely a social or cultural issue; it was a direct violation of God's explicit covenant commands given to Israel, particularly in [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Command Against Intermarriage") and [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warnings Against Covenant with Inhabitants of the Land"). The primary concern was not racial purity but spiritual purity. God commanded His people to be set apart as a holy nation, and intermarriage with pagan peoples was forbidden because it inevitably led to idolatry and the corruption of Israel's worship of the one true God. The surrounding nations worshipped false gods, practiced detestable customs, and would inevitably lead Israel astray, just as they had done repeatedly before the exile. For Ezra, this immediate relapse into such a foundational sin, so soon after returning from exile (which was itself a judgment for idolatry), represented a profound betrayal of God's covenant and a threat to the very spiritual identity and survival of the restored community. His extreme reaction reflected the gravity of this spiritual compromise.

**Were Ezra's physical actions (tearing clothes, plucking hair) typical for expressing grief in ancient Israel?**

Answer: Tearing one's garment was indeed a common and widely recognized cultural expression of extreme grief, sorrow, or indignation in ancient Israel and the broader Near East, seen in various biblical accounts like [Job 1:20](/job/1-20 "Job 1:20 - Job's Response to Tragedy") or [Genesis 37:34](/genesis/37-34 "Genesis 37:34 - Jacob's Grief"). However, Ezra's additional act of plucking hair from his head and beard was an even more severe and less common expression of lament. It signified a profound, almost desperate, level of anguish, self-abasement, and humiliation, often associated with a complete breakdown or identification with a great calamity or national disgrace. It went beyond typical mourning to convey utter desolation and a deep spiritual agony, making his reaction particularly intense and noteworthy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra's profound grief and identification with the sin of his people, expressed through his extreme lament, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate one who would fully identify with humanity's sin and bear its crushing weight: Jesus Christ. While Ezra grieved over the people's unfaithfulness to the old covenant, Christ, as the perfect Lamb of God, would come to take away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Ezra's "astonied" state reflects the horror of sin's defilement, but it is Christ who, though sinless, "became sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His lament over Jerusalem's rejection of God's ways ([Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")) echoes Ezra's anguish, yet Christ's response culminated not in despair, but in the redemptive act of the cross. Through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the Law that Israel continually broke, providing the true means of spiritual purity and separation from the world's defilement. He established a new covenant where holiness is not achieved through human effort or ritualistic separation, but through union with Him, making us a truly holy people, set apart by His blood ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Purifies Conscience")). Thus, Ezra's lament points us to the One who fully bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, bringing about a salvation that truly purifies and restores.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nehemiah 1:4

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Joshua 7:6

¶ And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

Daniel 4:19

¶ Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Leviticus 21:5

They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

Jeremiah 7:29

¶ Cut off thine hair, [O Jerusalem], and cast [it] away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

2 Kings 18:37

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

2 Kings 19:1

¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.