New American Standard Bible 2020
Ezra 8:22
22For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to 1protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “2The hand of our God is 3favorably disposed to all who seek Him, but 4His power and His anger are against all those who 5abandon Him.”
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 of the temple servants, whom David and the officials had provided for the service of the Levites, all of them designated by name. 21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, to humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon Him.” 23So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our pleading. 24Then I selected twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their brothers;
Read all of Ezra 8Ezra 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
- For I wasבּוֹשׁbûsh · be ashamedH954
- to requestשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
- from the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- troopsחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
- and horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571
- protectעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826
- us from the enemyאָיַב'âyab · be hostileH340
- on the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
- we had saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- The handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- of our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- to allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- who seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- His powerעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
- and His angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- are againstעַל‛al · uponH5921
- abandonעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
Cross-references for Ezra 8:22
- 1 Corinthians 9:15But I have used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make my boast an empty one!
- 2 Corinthians 7:14For if I have boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.
- Ezra 7:6So this Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars.”
- Psalms 33:18Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who wait for His faithfulness,
- Psalms 34:15The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help.
- Isaiah 3:10Say to the righteous that it will go well for them, For they will eat the fruit of their actions.
- Lamentations 3:25The Lord is good to those who await Him, To the person who seeks Him.
- Romans 8:28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
- 1 Peter 3:12For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”
- Joshua 23:16When you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and you go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”
- 2 Chronicles 15:2and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.
- Psalms 21:8Your hand will find all your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate you.
- Psalms 34:16The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To eliminate the memory of them from the earth.
- Psalms 90:11Who understands the power of Your anger And Your fury, according to 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
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Ezra 8:22 Lit help ↩
- 2. Ezra 8:22 Ezra 7:6, 9, 28 ↩
- 3. Ezra 8:22 Lit upon all...for good ↩
- 4. Ezra 8:22 Josh 22:16 ↩
- 5. Ezra 8:22 2 Chr 15:2 ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries