King James Version
Ezra 9:3 in the King James Version says “And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and s...” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.”
Ezra 9:3 · KJV
Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, heaviness: or, affliction
KJV Study — Public Domain
“And when I heard”
H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“this thing”
H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
“I rent”
H7167to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“and plucked off”
H4803to polish; by implication, to make bald (the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to sharpen
“of my head”
H7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
“and sat down”
H3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
“astonied”
H8074to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
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.
Ezra 9:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
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