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

20and 220 temple servants. ⌞They were descended⌟ from the temple servants whom David and his officials had appointed to work for the Levites. These were all listed by name. 21Then I announced a fast there at the Ahava River so that we might humble ourselves in the presence of our God to ask him for a safe journey for ourselves, for our little ones, and for all our goods. I was ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort with cavalry to help us against an enemy attack on the way. We had already told the king, “Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him, but his power and his anger oppose everyone who abandons him.” 23So we fasted and asked our God for a safe journey, and he answered our prayer. 24Then I selected 12 leaders from the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their relatives.

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 9:15I haven’t used any of these rights, and I haven’t written this in order to use them now. I would rather die than have anyone turn my bragging into meaningless words.
• 2 Corinthians 7:14I didn’t have to be ashamed of anything I had said to him when I bragged about you. Since everything we told you was true, our bragging to Titus has also proved to be true.
• Ezra 7:6As a scribe, Ezra was an expert in Moses’ Teachings, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king gave Ezra everything he requested because the Lord his God was guiding him.
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“And you, my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve the Lord wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought ⌞we have⌟. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9The Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them. You acted foolishly in this matter. So from now on, you will have to fight wars.”
• Psalms 33:18The Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him, on those who wait with hope for his mercy
• Psalms 34:15The Lord’s eyes are on righteous people. His ears hear their cry for help.
• Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor.
• Lamentations 3:25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to anyone who seeks help from him.
• Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
• 1 Peter 3:12The Lord’s eyes are on those who do what he approves. His ears hear their prayer. The Lord confronts those who do evil.”
• Joshua 23:16When you ignore the conditions placed on you by the Lord your God and follow other gods, serve them and bow down to them, the Lord will be angry with you. Then you will quickly disappear from the good land he has given you.”
• 2 Chronicles 15:2Azariah went to Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
• Psalms 21:8Your hand will discover all your enemies. Your powerful hand will find all who hate you.
• Psalms 34:16The Lord confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
• Psalms 90:11Who fully understands the power of your anger? A person fears you more when he better understands your fury.

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
• 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