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

20Also from the sanctuary servants, whom David and his officials had given for the work of the Levites, 220 sanctuary servants, all of them designated by name. 21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the Ahava River so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from Him a straight way for us, our little ones, and all of our possessions. For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and cavalry to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had spoken to the king saying, “The gracious hand of our God is upon everyone who seeks Him, but His great anger is against everyone who forsakes Him.” 23So we fasted and sought our God about this, and He responded to our plea. 24Then I set apart twelve of the leading kohanim—Sherebiah, Hashabiah and with them 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 9:15But I have used none of these things, and I am not writing these things so it will happen this way in my case—for I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason to boast.
• 2 Corinthians 7:14For if I have boasted some to him about you, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things truthfully to you, so also our boasting to Titus has proved to be the truth.
• Ezra 7:6this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Torah of Moses that Adonai the God of Israel had given. The king granted him everything he requested, because the hand of Adonai his God was upon him.
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“Now you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for Adonai searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of Adonai range throughtout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are wholly His. You have acted foolishly in this matter. Indeed, from now on you will have wars.”
• Psalms 33:18Behold, the eyes of Adonai are on those who fear Him, waiting for His love,
• Psalms 34:15Depart from evil and do good. Seek shalom and pursue it.
• Isaiah 3:10Say to the righteous, he will be well, eating the fruit of their deeds.
• Lamentations 3:25Adonai is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.
• Romans 8:28Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
• 1 Peter 3:12For the eyes of Adonai are on the righteous and His ears open to their prayer, but the face of Adonai is against those who do evil.”
• Joshua 23:16When you transgress the covenant of Adonai your God, which He commanded you, and go and worship other gods and bow down to them, then will the anger of Adonai burn against you, and you will perish quickly off this good land which He has given you.”
• 2 Chronicles 15:2He went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Listen to me Asa, all Judah and Benjamin. Adonai is with you as long as you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him, He will spurn you.
• Psalms 21:8For the king trusts in Adonai, and in the lovingkindness of Elyon he will not be shaken.
• Psalms 34:16The eyes of Adonai are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.
• Psalms 90:11Who knows the power of Your anger? Your fury leads to awe of 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
• 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