Ezra 8:21

Ezra 8:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
• New International Version (NIV)There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

Context of Ezra 8:21

19plus Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men. 20There were also 220 of the temple servants, who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites. All were identified by name. I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. 22I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him.” 23So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.

Ezra 8:21 word by word

וָאֶקְרָ֨א שָׁ֥ם צוֹם֙ עַל־הַנָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א לְהִתְעַנּ֖וֹת לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥נוּ וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ וּלְכָל־רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then I proclaimedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
• a fastצוֹםtsôm tsôm · fastH6685
• there, at the riverנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
• of Ahavaאַהֲוָא'ahăvâ' · AhavaH163
• that we might afflictעָנָה‛ânâh · to afflictH6031
• ourselves beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• to seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• of him a rightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• for us, and for our little onesטַףţaph · childH2945
• and for all our substanceרְכוּשׁrekûsh rekûsh · propertyH7399

Cross-references for Ezra 8:21

• Judges 20:26The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 7:6When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
• 2 Chronicles 20:3Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah,
• Joel 1:14Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land at the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
• Joel 2:12Even now — this is the Lord’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
• Jonah 3:5Then the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth — from the greatest of them to the least.
• Leviticus 16:29“This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the alien who resides among you.
• Leviticus 23:29If any person does not practice self-denial on this particular day, he is to be cut off from his people.
• Isaiah 58:3“Why have we fasted, but you have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers.
• Jeremiah 31:8Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land. I will gather them from remote regions of the earth — the blind and the lame will be with them, along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth. They will return here as a great assembly!
• Jeremiah 50:4In those days and at that time — this is the Lord’s declaration — the Israelites and Judeans will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the Lord their God.
• Psalms 5:8Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries; make your way straight before me.
• Psalms 107:2Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe
• Psalms 143:8Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.
• Proverbs 3:6in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
• Isaiah 30:21and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

Commentaries on Ezra 8:21

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-23Verses 21-23 Ezra procured Levites to go with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? Those who seek God, are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in their greatest dangers; but those who forsake him, are always exposed. When entering upon any new state of life, our care should be, to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any peril, let us be at peace with God, and then nothing can do…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21a fast, so that we might humble ourselves: Ezra saw the need to ask God for protection, safety, and health for 5,000 people walking 800 miles. Robbers might hide in the hills, crossing rivers was dangerous, and people could get sick.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-3621. Then I proclaimed a fast there--The dangers to travelling caravans from the Bedouin Arabs that prowl through the desert were in ancient times as great as they still are; and it seems that travellers usually sought the protection of a military escort. But Ezra had spoken so much to the king of the sufficiency of the divine care of His people that he would have blushed to apply for a guard of soldiers. Therefore he resolved that his followers should, by…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezra 8:21

• Ahava
• Blessing
• Children
• Ezra
• Fasting
• Humiliation and Self-Affliction
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• God
• Euphrates River, the River
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ahava
• Ezra
• Fast
• Require
• Scribe
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Fast; Fasting

Commentaries on Ezra 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings