¶ And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

And at the evening {H6153} sacrifice {H4503} I arose up {H6965} from my heaviness {H8589}; and having rent {H7167} my garment {H899} and my mantle {H4598}, I fell {H3766} upon my knees {H1290}, and spread out {H6566} my hands {H3709} unto the LORD {H3068} my God {H430},

At the evening offering, with my cloak and tunic torn, I got up from afflicting myself, fell on my knees, spread out my hands to ADONAI my God,

At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,

And at the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto Jehovah my God;

Ezra 9:5 powerfully captures the moment of Ezra's profound spiritual awakening and deep repentance following the discovery of widespread intermarriage among the returned exiles. This verse marks the beginning of his earnest prayer of confession, a pivotal moment in the book of Ezra.

Context

This verse follows Ezra's initial shock and grief upon learning that the Jewish people, who had returned from Babylonian captivity, had defiled themselves by marrying foreign women from the surrounding pagan nations (as detailed in Ezra 9:1-2). This was a direct violation of God's covenant commands, specifically prohibited in texts like Deuteronomy 7:3, to prevent spiritual assimilation and preserve the purity of their faith. Ezra had been sitting "astonied" (appalled, dumbfounded) from the time he heard the news until the "evening sacrifice." The "evening sacrifice" (Hebrew: minchah), typically offered around 3 PM, was a significant time of daily worship and prayer in ancient Israel, as seen in other biblical accounts like Daniel 9:21, making it a fitting moment for such a desperate and heartfelt appeal to God.

Key Themes

  • Profound Grief and Repentance: Ezra's physical actions—arising from "heaviness," tearing his clothes, falling to his knees, and spreading out his hands—are traditional biblical expressions of deep sorrow, distress, and abject repentance. His personal anguish reflects the gravity of the people's corporate sin.
  • Intercession: Ezra doesn't just mourn; he acts as an intercessor, identifying with the sins of the people despite his own righteousness. He takes their spiritual burden upon himself before God.
  • Reverence and Humility: The posture of falling on his knees and spreading out his hands signifies profound humility and submission to the LORD, acknowledging God's sovereignty and seeking His mercy.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Ezra's reaction underscores the importance of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, which was threatened by the people's disobedience and spiritual compromise.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "arose up from my heaviness" indicates a transition from a state of profound shock and despondency to one of active prayer. The Hebrew word for "heaviness" (tâ'ab) here conveys a sense of being appalled or disgusted, reflecting Ezra's moral revulsion at the sin.
  • "Rent my garment and my mantle" (Hebrew: qara') was a powerful symbolic act in the ancient Near East, signifying extreme grief, despair, or indignation. While sometimes an outward display, here it clearly accompanies a deep, inward spiritual agony, contrasting with the warning in Joel 2:13 to "rend your heart, and not your garments."
  • "Spread out my hands unto the LORD my God" is a common posture of prayer, symbolizing an appeal for help, supplication, or an expectant reaching out to receive from God. The personal address, "my God," emphasizes Ezra's intimate relationship with the Almighty even amidst corporate sin.

Reflection and Application

Ezra's passionate response to sin serves as a powerful model for believers today. It reminds us of the seriousness of spiritual compromise and the importance of maintaining purity in our walk with God. His example teaches us:

  • To be deeply grieved by sin, both our own and that within the community of faith.
  • The necessity of heartfelt prayer and intercession for others, taking their spiritual burdens before the Lord.
  • The value of humility and reverence in our approach to God, especially when confessing sin.
  • That spiritual awakening often begins with a profound personal response to God's holiness and His Word.

This verse encourages us to cultivate a sensitivity to sin and to approach God with genuine repentance and earnest supplication, trusting in His mercy and grace.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • 1 Kings 8:38

    What prayer and supplication soever be [made] by any man, [or] by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
  • 1 Kings 8:22

    ¶ And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • 1 Kings 8:54

    ¶ And it was [so], that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
  • Exodus 9:33

    And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
  • Exodus 9:29

    And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; [and] the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD'S.
  • Psalms 95:6

    O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
  • Psalms 141:2

    Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.

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