King James Version

What Does Ezra 10:1 Mean?

Ezra 10:1 in the King James Version says “Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there ass...” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. wept: Heb. wept a great weeping”

Ezra 10:1 · KJV

Prayer

Context

1

Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. wept: Heb. wept a great weeping

2

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

3

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. to put: Heb. to bring forth

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. Ezra's public mourning over Israel's sin catalyzed corporate repentance. The participles 'weeping and casting himself down' describe prostrate grief, not merely emotional display but physical embodiment of spiritual anguish. The location 'before the house of God' made his intercession highly visible, modeling leadership that mourns over sin rather than excusing it.

The response—'there assembled unto him... a very great congregation'—shows genuine leadership influence. Ezra didn't command attendance but attracted it through authentic spiritual burden. His grief over sin proved contagious as 'the people wept very sore' (vayyivku ha'am harbeh), indicating intense, widespread mourning. The inclusion of 'men and women and children' emphasizes comprehensive community participation, not merely religious leaders.

Theologically, this models how godly leadership catalyzes corporate repentance. Ezra's mourning wasn't manipulative performance but authentic grief over covenant violation. His example awakened the community's dormant conscience, demonstrating that passionate spiritual leadership stirs corresponding passion in God's people. Leaders who deeply feel sin's offense against God evoke similar awareness in others.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ezra's prayer (Ezra 9:5-15) followed discovery of widespread intermarriage between returned exiles and pagan peoples (Ezra 9:1-4). This violated explicit Torah prohibition (Exodus 34:15-16, Deuteronomy 7:3-4) designed to prevent idolatry. The issue wasn't racial but religious—pagan spouses threatened to draw Israelites into idolatry, as had occurred with Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-8) and others throughout Israel's history.

Ezra's extreme grief reflected understanding of Israel's history. Previous generations' covenant unfaithfulness had resulted in exile and destruction. Now, barely established in the land, the community was repeating the very sins that caused catastrophe. Ezra feared God's judgment would strike again, potentially ending the restoration permanently. His mourning expressed existential terror about Israel's survival, not merely moral disapproval.

The public nature of Ezra's intercession occurred in the temple precincts where crowds gathered for worship. His prominent position as scribe and spiritual leader meant his actions drew attention. Rather than private rebuke, he chose public mourning, calling the community to self-examination and corporate repentance through personal example.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Ezra's public mourning teach about authentic spiritual leadership versus performative religiosity?
  2. How does the people's responsive weeping demonstrate the contagious nature of genuine spiritual passion?
  3. What role should corporate lament and repentance play in modern church life?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל1 of 22

“had prayed”

H6419

to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray

עֶזְרָא֙2 of 22

“Now when Ezra”

H5830

ezra, an israelite

וּכְ֨הִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ3 of 22

“and when he had confessed”

H3034

physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha

בָכ֥וּ4 of 22

“weeping”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

וּמִתְנַפֵּ֔ל5 of 22

“and casting himself down”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

לִפְנֵ֖י6 of 22

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

בֵּ֣ית7 of 22

“the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים8 of 22

“of God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

נִקְבְּצוּ֩9 of 22

“there assembled”

H6908

to grasp, i.e., collect

אֵלָ֨יו10 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל11 of 22

“unto him out of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

קָהָ֣ל12 of 22

“congregation”

H6951

assemblage (usually concretely)

רַב13 of 22

“great”

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

מְאֹ֗ד14 of 22

“a very”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

אֲנָשִׁ֤ים15 of 22

“of men”

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

וְנָשִׁים֙16 of 22

“and women”

H802

a woman

וִֽילָדִ֔ים17 of 22

“and children”

H3206

something born, i.e., a lad or offspring

כִּֽי18 of 22
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

בָכ֥וּ19 of 22

“weeping”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

הָעָ֖ם20 of 22

“for the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הַרְבֵּה21 of 22

“very”

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

בֶֽכֶה׃22 of 22

“sore”

H1059

a weeping

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezra. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezra 10:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezra 10:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 9:20Psalms 119:136Romans 9:21 John 1:8-101 Kings 8:30Nehemiah 8:9

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