God’s Word Translation
Ezra 8:31
31Then we left the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. God was guiding us, and he rescued us from our enemies and from ambushes along the way.
Ezra 8:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
- New International Version (NIV)On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.
Context of Ezra 8:31
29Guard them carefully. In Jerusalem, inside the storerooms of the Lord’s temple, weigh these items. Do this in front of the chief priests, Levites, and the leaders of Israel’s families.” 30So the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the utensils. They were responsible for bringing these items to the temple of our God in Jerusalem. Then we left the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. God was guiding us, and he rescued us from our enemies and from ambushes along the way. 32When we reached Jerusalem, we rested for three days. 33On the fourth day we weighed the silver, the gold, and the utensils in our God’s temple. We put them under the supervision of Meremoth, son of the priest Uriah, as well as Eleazar, the son of Phinehas. The Levites, Jeshua’s son Jozabad, and Binnui’s son Noadiah, assisted them.
Read all of Ezra 8Ezra 8:31 word by word
וַֽנִּסְעָ֞ה מִנְּהַ֣ר אַֽהֲוָ֗א בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן לָלֶ֖כֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הָיְתָ֣ה עָלֵ֔ינוּ וַיַּ֨צִּילֵ֔נוּ מִכַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב וְאוֹרֵ֖ב עַל־הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then we departedנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
- from the riverנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
- of Ahavaאַהֲוָא'ahăvâ' · AhavaH163
- on the twelfthעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
- on the twelfthשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- of the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · firstH7223
- monthחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
- to goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- unto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- and the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- of our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- was upon us, and he deliveredנָצַלnâtsal · to rescueH5337
- us from the handכַּףkaph · palmH3709
- of the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- and of such as lay in waitאָרַב'ârab · to ambushH693
- by the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
Cross-references for Ezra 8:31
- Ezra 8:15I had this group gather by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I noticed laypeople and priests there, but I didn’t find any Levites.
- Ezra 8:22I 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.”
- Ezra 7:9He had left Babylon on the first day of the first month, and on the first day of the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem, since his God was good to him.
- Job 5:19He will keep you safe from six troubles, and when the seventh one comes, no harm will touch you:
- Psalms 91:9You, O Lord, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your home.
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.
- Acts 25:3Festus to do them the favor of having Paul brought to Jerusalem. The Jews had a plan to ambush and kill Paul as he traveled to Jerusalem.
- Acts 26:22“God has been helping me to this day so that I can stand and testify to important and unimportant people. I tell them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen.
Commentaries on Ezra 8:31
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31The Jews with Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month Ezra 7:9. They reached Ahava in nine days, and, having remained there three Ezra 8:15, quitted it, and resumed their journey on the twelfth. They reached Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month Ezra 7:9, four months after the departure from Babylon.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-36Verses 31-36 Enemies laid wait for the Jews, but God protected them. Even the common perils of journeys, call us to go out with prayer, and to return with praise and thanksgiving. But what shall we render when the Lord has led us safely through the pilgrimage of life, through the gloomy vale of death, out of the reach of all our enemies, into everlasting happiness! Among their sacrifices they had a sin-offering. The atonement sweetens and secures every…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-32On the twelfth day of the first month we set out: It took twelve days to organize, encourage some Levites to join, and pray for God's protection. Only then could Ezra lead the people toward Jerusalem (see Ezra 7:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-3224-32. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests ... and weighed unto them the silver, &c.--The custody of the contributions and of the sacred vessels was, during the journey, committed to twelve of the chief priests, who, with the assistance of ten of their brethren, were to watch closely over them by the way, and deliver them into the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The treasures in silver and gold, according to the value of the Babylonian…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezra 8:31
In the dictionaries
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
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