Revised Literal Translation
Ezra 8:21
21Then 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.
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
19And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty; 20Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name. 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. 22For 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. 23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Read all of Ezra 8Ezra 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
- 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 20:26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before Yhwh, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yhwh.
- 1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before Yhwh, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Yhwh. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
- 2 Chronicles 20:3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek Yhwh, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
- Joel 1:14Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of Yhwh your God, and cry unto Yhwh,
- Joel 2:12Therefore also now, saith Yhwh, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
- Jonah 3:5So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
- Leviticus 16:29And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
- Leviticus 23:29For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
- Isaiah 58:3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
- Jeremiah 31:8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
- Jeremiah 50:4In those days, and in that time, saith Yhwh, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek Yhwh their God.
- Psalms 5:8Lead me, O Yhwh, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
- Psalms 107:2Let the redeemed of Yhwh say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
- Psalms 143:8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
- Proverbs 3:6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
- Isaiah 30:21And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
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
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries