Ezra 9:7

KJV

Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.

KJV (with Strong's)

Since the days {H3117} of our fathers {H1} have we been in a great {H1419} trespass {H819} unto this day {H3117}; and for our iniquities {H5771} have we, our kings {H4428}, and our priests {H3548}, been delivered {H5414} into the hand {H3027} of the kings {H4428} of the lands {H776}, to the sword {H2719}, to captivity {H7628}, and to a spoil {H961}, and to confusion {H1322} of face {H6440}, as it is this day {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Since the times of our ancestors, we have been deeply guilty; and because of our sins, we, our kings and our cohanim have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to exile, to pillage and to disgrace, as is the case today.

Berean Standard Bible

From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.

American Standard Version

Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 9:7 is a profound and poignant confession from Ezra's prayer, articulating the deep, generational unfaithfulness of the people of Israel, extending "since the days of our fathers unto this day." This verse starkly connects their persistent "great trespass" and "iniquities" to the severe divine judgments they experienced, including subjugation to foreign kings, warfare, exile, plunder, and profound public shame, underscoring the direct and devastating consequences of covenant disobedience and God's righteous judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 9:7 is situated within Ezra's deeply emotional and sweeping prayer of confession, which spans [Ezra 9:6-15](/ezra/9-6-15 "Ezra's Comprehensive Prayer of Confession"). This prayer is not a spontaneous outburst but a deliberate and agonizing response to the shocking news that the returned exiles, despite God's gracious restoration, had committed the grave sin of intermarrying with the surrounding pagan peoples. This act directly violated the explicit commands of God given in the Mosaic Law, particularly concerning separation from idolatrous nations to preserve Israel's spiritual purity (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3-4 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")). Ezra's personal distress, tearing his garments and pulling out his hair and beard ([Ezra 9:3](/ezra/9-3 "Ezra's Profound Distress")), underscores the severity of the transgression. His prayer moves beyond the immediate sin, offering a sweeping historical indictment that acknowledges a long-standing pattern of rebellion. Verse 7 specifically serves as the historical anchor for the current distress, linking centuries of past sins to the present state of vulnerability, shame, and continued subjugation, thereby demonstrating that the current crisis is not an isolated event but the culmination of persistent unfaithfulness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Ezra 9 unfold after the initial wave of exiles has returned from Babylonian captivity under Zerubbabel and Joshua, and the Second Temple has been rebuilt in Jerusalem. Ezra, a priest and scribe "skilled in the Law of Moses" ([Ezra 7:6](/ezra/7-6 "Ezra's Expertise in the Law")), arrives in Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes I, approximately 60 years after the temple's dedication. The Jewish community was a small, vulnerable remnant, living under Persian suzerainty, striving to re-establish their identity as God's covenant people. The "peoples of the lands" refers to the various non-Israelite groups who had settled in the region during the exile, many of whom practiced idolatry and posed a significant spiritual threat. Intermarriage with these groups was not merely a social misstep but a profound theological breach, threatening to dilute Israel's distinct identity and lead them back into the idolatry that had plagued them throughout their history (e.g., during the period of the [Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges")). The "kings of the lands" explicitly refers to the successive foreign powers—Assyria, Babylon, and now Persia—who had dominated Israel, serving as instruments of divine judgment and fulfilling the covenant curses for disobedience outlined in passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience")).

* **Key Themes:** Ezra 9:7 powerfully encapsulates several major themes prevalent in the book of Ezra and the broader post-exilic prophetic literature. Central among these is the theme of **corporate and generational sin**, where Ezra identifies profoundly with the collective guilt of Israel, acknowledging a persistent pattern of "great trespass" that spans from "the days of our fathers" to his present day. This highlights the concept of shared responsibility and the cumulative impact of national unfaithfulness, demonstrating that the consequences of sin can transcend individual lifetimes. Another crucial theme is the **consequences of disobedience**, as the verse explicitly links their "iniquities" to the severe judgments they endured: being "delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil." This serves as a stark reminder of the covenant curses promised for rebellion against God's laws, vividly illustrated by the Babylonian exile and subsequent subjugation, affirming God's unwavering **justice** and **faithfulness** to His covenant, even in judgment. Finally, the phrase "confusion of face" underscores the theme of **shame and humiliation**, a visible and deeply felt consequence of their broken covenant relationship with God, reflecting a loss of divine favor, honor, and dignity before other nations.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Trespass (Hebrew, _ʼashmâh'_):** This word (H819) refers to guiltiness, a fault, or a transgression, often specifically in the context of a sin-offering. It signifies a profound breach of trust or an act of unfaithfulness, particularly against God or sacred things. It implies a deliberate turning away from covenant obligations, often involving sacrilege or a violation of what is holy. In Ezra 9:7, "great trespass" signifies a profound and persistent betrayal of Israel's covenant with Yahweh, a consistent pattern of spiritual infidelity that accumulated over generations.
* **Iniquities (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** The Hebrew word (H5771) denotes moral perversity, guilt, or the punishment for sin. It emphasizes the crookedness or distortion of moral character that leads to sinful acts, and it often carries the connotation of the consequences or penalty that naturally follow from such wrongdoing. Here, it highlights the deep-seated moral corruption that characterized Israel's disobedience, leading directly to the divine judgment described.
* **Confusion of face (Hebrew, _bôsheth pânîym'_):** This vivid idiom (H1322 for "shame" and H6440 for "face") literally translates to "shame of face" or "disgrace of face." It powerfully conveys a state of deep humiliation, public disgrace, and utter mortification. It is a visible manifestation of profound shame, indicating a loss of honor, dignity, and divine favor. For the Israelites, it represented their abject state before God and the nations, a direct result of their repeated unfaithfulness and the broken covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day;":** This opening clause establishes a profound historical continuity of sin. Ezra identifies not only with the current generation's failings but with the cumulative "great trespass" (a significant and pervasive breach of covenant) that has characterized Israel's history from ancient times ("our fathers") right up to the present moment ("this day"). This emphasizes the deep-rooted, persistent, and corporate nature of their unfaithfulness, highlighting that the current crisis is part of a long-standing pattern.
* **"and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands,":** This section details the direct consequence of their "iniquities," highlighting divine judgment. The phrase "delivered into the hand" signifies God's active, yet just, role in allowing their subjugation, not as an arbitrary act, but as a righteous response to their sin. The inclusion of "we, our kings, and our priests" underscores the corporate nature of the guilt, encompassing all levels of society—from the common people to their spiritual and political leaders—all of whom shared responsibility for the nation's spiritual decline. "Kings of the lands" refers to the successive foreign empires (Assyria, Babylon, Persia) that dominated them.
* **"to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.":** This final clause enumerates the specific forms of judgment and suffering they endured. "To the sword" indicates warfare, violence, and death; "to captivity" refers to exile, enslavement, and loss of homeland; "to a spoil" signifies plunder, confiscation of possessions, and economic devastation. The culmination, "to confusion of face," vividly portrays the deep shame, public humiliation, and loss of honor that accompanied their subjugation, a visible sign of their broken covenant and loss of divine blessing. The concluding phrase "as it is this day" reiterates the immediate and ongoing reality of these consequences, emphasizing that their present distress is a direct continuation of this historical pattern of judgment and its painful effects.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 9:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of profound confession and the devastating consequences of sin. The entire verse functions as a **confession** and **lament**, a heartfelt cry of anguish and admission of corporate guilt before God. Ezra's use of **corporate identity** is prominent through the repeated use of "we," "our," "our kings," and "our priests," demonstrating his solidarity with the nation's sin and emphasizing the collective nature of their trespass and suffering. The phrase "great trespass" serves as an **intensification** or **hyperbole**, underscoring the severe magnitude and pervasive nature of their unfaithfulness. The enumeration of consequences—"to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face"—is a form of **climax** or **enumeration**, building in intensity to the ultimate indignity of public shame. The repetition of "unto this day" and "as it is this day" creates a sense of **emphasis** and **continuity**, highlighting the persistent nature of both their sin and its ongoing, tangible consequences. Finally, "confusion of face" is a vivid **idiom** and a form of **metonymy**, where the physical manifestation (shame on the face) stands for the deeper spiritual, social, and relational disgrace experienced by the nation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 9:7 is a powerful theological statement on the gravity of sin, particularly covenant unfaithfulness, and the inevitable consequences of divine judgment. It underscores the principle that God holds His people accountable for their actions, both individually and corporately, across generations. The verse highlights the concept of corporate solidarity in sin and suffering, where the actions of past generations and leaders contribute to the present condition of the community, demonstrating that sin has a cumulative and pervasive effect. It also implicitly affirms God's justice and righteousness in His dealings with His people, demonstrating that His warnings and covenant curses are not idle threats but are faithfully executed when His people persistently rebel. The shame and humiliation described ("confusion of face") are not merely external circumstances but reflect a broken relationship with the Holy God, a loss of His favor and protection, and a visible sign of their covenant breach before the nations.

* [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Nehemiah 9:33](/nehemiah/9-33 "Nehemiah 9:33 - Nehemiah's Prayer of Confession")
* [Lamentations 5:16](/lamentations/5-16 "Lamentations 5:16 - The Crown Has Fallen")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 9:7 serves as a profound mirror for believers today, urging us to consider the enduring impact of sin, both personal and corporate. It challenges us to move beyond superficial acknowledgment of wrongdoing to a deep, Ezra-like confession that grapples with the historical and generational patterns of unfaithfulness that may still affect us or our communities. The verse reminds us that sin is never trivial; it carries real, often painful, consequences, leading to spiritual "captivity," "spoil," and "confusion of face" in our lives and in the church when we deviate from God's commands. True repentance, modeled by Ezra, involves identifying with the sin, taking responsibility, and humbly acknowledging God's justice in any suffering we experience. This verse calls us to learn from the past, to diligently pursue faithfulness to God's Word, and to recognize that our actions, individually and collectively, have profound and lasting repercussions, shaping our present and future spiritual realities. It compels us to seek genuine spiritual revival and purity, lest we continue in the "great trespass" that brings shame and separation from God's blessing and protection.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my life or my community be experiencing "confusion of face" or other negative consequences due to unconfessed or generational sin?**
* **How does Ezra's deep identification with his people's sin challenge my own approach to confession and repentance for corporate wrongdoing?**
* **What specific "trespasses" or "iniquities" in my life or in the church today need to be brought before God with the same gravity and humility as Ezra's prayer?**

### FAQ
**What does "confusion of face" mean in Ezra 9:7?**

Answer: "Confusion of face" (Hebrew: _bôsheth pânîym_) is a vivid idiom meaning deep shame, disgrace, or public humiliation. It literally translates to "shame of face" and describes the visible manifestation of profound embarrassment and mortification. In Ezra 9:7, it signifies the loss of dignity, honor, and divine favor that Israel experienced as a direct consequence of their persistent unfaithfulness to God. It was a public acknowledgment of their broken covenant relationship and their reduced status among the nations, fulfilling the warnings of the Law, such as those found in [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Curses for Disobedience").

**Why does Ezra confess sins that happened "since the days of our fathers"?**

Answer: Ezra's confession of sins "since the days of our fathers" highlights the concept of corporate and generational sin within the covenant community of Israel. It's not that Ezra is personally guilty of every past sin, but he identifies with the collective history and ongoing pattern of unfaithfulness that characterized the nation. This acknowledges that the current generation inherited and continued a legacy of disobedience, and that the consequences they were experiencing were the cumulative result of centuries of rebellion against God's covenant. This corporate solidarity in sin and suffering is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, as seen in other prayers of confession like [Nehemiah 9](/nehemiah/9 "Nehemiah 9 - The Levites' Prayer of Confession"). It emphasizes that the nation's spiritual health is a continuous narrative, and current challenges often have roots in past transgressions, requiring a deep, historical understanding of their covenant relationship with God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 9:7, with its raw depiction of generational sin and its devastating consequences, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The "great trespass" and "iniquities" that plagued Israel for centuries, leading to "sword, captivity, spoil, and confusion of face," are the very sins that Christ came to bear. Unlike Israel's kings and priests who shared in the nation's guilt and shame, Jesus, the perfect [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), was "without sin" ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sinless High Priest")). Yet, in an act of profound substitutionary atonement, He became sin for us, bearing our "confusion of face" and shame on the cross, enduring the ultimate public disgrace. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree" ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")), taking upon Himself the "spoil" and "captivity" of sin's dominion and the curse of the Law ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). Through His sacrifice, the cycle of trespass and judgment that defined Israel's history is broken for those who believe. We are delivered from the hand of the "kings of the lands" of sin and death, and are given a new covenant that empowers true faithfulness through the indwelling Holy Spirit, transforming our shame into glory and offering eternal freedom from the consequences of our "great trespass" ([Romans 8:1-2](/romans/8-1-2 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")). In Christ, the generational curse of sin is replaced by generational blessing and an inheritance of righteousness.

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

2 Chronicles 29:6

For our fathers have trespassed, and done [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned [their] backs.

Daniel 9:5

We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Daniel 9:8

O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

Acts 7:51

¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Deuteronomy 4:25

When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt [yourselves], and make a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing], and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:

Deuteronomy 4:28

And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.