Ezra 7:28
And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָלַ֣י
H5921
וְעָלַ֣י
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
1 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הִטָּה
And hath extended
H5186
הִטָּה
And hath extended
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
2 of 21
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
חֶ֗סֶד
mercy
H2617
חֶ֗סֶד
mercy
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
3 of 21
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
לִפְנֵ֤י
unto me before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֤י
unto me before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
4 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יו
and his counsellors
H3289
וְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יו
and his counsellors
Strong's:
H3289
Word #:
6 of 21
to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
וּלְכָל
H3605
וּלְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי
And I was strengthened
H2388
הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי
And I was strengthened
Strong's:
H2388
Word #:
12 of 21
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra
כְּיַד
as the hand
H3027
כְּיַד
as the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
13 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
יְהוָ֤ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהַי֙
my God
H430
אֱלֹהַי֙
my God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
15 of 21
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
עָלַ֔י
H5921
עָלַ֔י
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וָֽאֶקְבְּצָ֧ה
was upon me and I gathered together
H6908
וָֽאֶקְבְּצָ֧ה
was upon me and I gathered together
Strong's:
H6908
Word #:
17 of 21
to grasp, i.e., collect
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
out of Israel
H3478
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
out of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
18 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
רָאשִׁ֖ים
chief men
H7218
רָאשִׁ֖ים
chief men
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
19 of 21
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
Cross References
Ezra 9:9For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.Nehemiah 2:8And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.Ezra 5:5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.Ezra 8:18And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
Historical Context
Ezra's experience of favor before Persian elite wasn't chance but divine providence. The 'king's mighty princes' were powerful officials who could have opposed the mission. God's hand secured not just permission but enthusiastic support. Ezra's gathering of 'chief men' (approximately 1,500 males plus families, Ezra 8:1-14) required persuasion and leadership. His success in recruiting demonstrated both divine calling and human capability to inspire others toward costly obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognition of divine favor ('hand of the LORD my God') prevent pride while inspiring confident action?
- What does combination of trusting God and gathering leaders teach about balancing faith with responsible human effort?
Analysis & Commentary
Ezra's doxology continues: 'and hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes.' The term chesed (mercy/steadfast love) is God's covenant faithfulness. Ezra experienced this concretely—'before the king' in personal audience, and 'before all the king's mighty princes' in governmental circles. The response combines divine confidence ('I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me') with responsible action ('gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me').