Ezra 10:1

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל
H6419
had prayed
to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
#2
עֶזְרָא֙
H5830
Now when Ezra
ezra, an israelite
#3
וּכְ֨הִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ
H3034
and when he had confessed
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
#4
בָכ֥וּ
H1058
weeping
to weep; generally to bemoan
#5
וּמִתְנַפֵּ֔ל
H5307
and casting himself down
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#6
לִפְנֵ֖י
H6440
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#7
בֵּ֣ית
H1004
the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#8
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים
H430
of God
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
#9
נִקְבְּצוּ֩
H6908
there assembled
to grasp, i.e., collect
#10
אֵלָ֨יו
H413
near, with or among; often in general, to
#11
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
H3478
unto him out of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#12
קָהָ֣ל
H6951
congregation
assemblage (usually concretely)
#13
רַב
H7227
great
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
#14
מְאֹ֗ד
H3966
a very
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
#15
אֲנָשִׁ֤ים
H582
of men
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
#16
וְנָשִׁים֙
H802
and women
a woman
#17
וִֽילָדִ֔ים
H3206
and children
something born, i.e., a lad or offspring
#18
כִּֽי
H3588
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#19
בָכ֥וּ
H1058
weeping
to weep; generally to bemoan
#20
הָעָ֖ם
H5971
for the people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#21
הַרְבֵּה
H7235
very
to increase (in whatever respect)
#22
בֶֽכֶה׃
H1059
sore
a weeping

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezra Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection