Ezra 8:22

Ezra 8:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
• New International Version (NIV)I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.”

Context of Ezra 8:22

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. 21I 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. I 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. 24I selected twelve of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers.

Ezra 8:22 word by word

כִּ֣י בֹ֗שְׁתִּי לִשְׁא֤וֹל מִן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חַ֣יִל וּפָרָשִׁ֔ים לְעָזְרֵ֥נוּ מֵאוֹיֵ֖ב בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ כִּֽי־אָמַ֨רְנוּ לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֗ר יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁיו֙ לְטוֹבָ֔ה וְעֻזּ֣וֹ וְאַפּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For I was ashamedבּוֹשׁbûsh · be ashamedH954
• to requireשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• of the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• a band of soldiersחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
• and horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571
• to helpעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826
• us against the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• in the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• because we had spokenאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• The handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• of our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• upon all them for goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
• that seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• him; but his powerעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
• and his wrathאַף'aph · face: angerH639
• against all them that forsakeעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800

Cross-references for Ezra 8:22

• 1 Corinthians 9:15For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!
• 2 Corinthians 7:14For if I have made any boast to him about you, I have not been disappointed; but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, so our boasting to Titus has also turned out to be the truth.
• Ezra 7:6— came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”
• Psalms 33:18But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him — those who depend on his faithful love
• Psalms 34:15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.
• Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous that it will go well for them, for they will eat the fruit of their labor.
• Lamentations 3:25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him.
• Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
• 1 Peter 3:12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
• Joshua 23:16If you break the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow in worship to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly disappear from this good land he has given you.”
• 2 Chronicles 15:2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
• Psalms 21:8Your hand will capture all your enemies; your right hand will seize those who hate you.
• Psalms 34:16The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth.
• Psalms 90:11Who understands the power of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due you.

Commentaries on Ezra 8:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22I was ashamed to require - a band - He had represented God, the object of his worship, as supremely powerful, and as having the strongest affection for his true followers: he could not, therefore, consistently with his declarations, ask a band of soldiers from the king to protect them on the way, when they were going expressly to rebuild the temple of Jehovah, and restore his worship. He therefore found it necessary to seek the Lord by fasting and prayer…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22What “enemy” menaced Ezra, and on what account, is wholly uncertain (compare Ezra 8:31). Perhaps robber-tribes, Arab or Syrian, were his opponents.Read the comment
• 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. 22ashamed: Ezra had openly declared his faith in God's power to protect the Israelites on their journey. Asking the king for help now would imply that Ezra doubted God's ability to provide.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 8:22

• Backsliders
• Blessing
• Courage
• Faith
• Fasting
• Humiliation and Self-Affliction
• Power
• Righteous
• Seekers

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ezra
• Fast
• Require
• Scribe
• Ashamed
• Esdras, the First Book of

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