Ezra 9:3
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.
Original Language Analysis
וּכְשָׁמְעִי֙
And when I heard
H8085
וּכְשָׁמְעִי֙
And when I heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 14
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַדָּבָ֣ר
this thing
H1697
הַדָּבָ֣ר
this thing
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 14
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
הַזֶּ֔ה
H2088
קָרַ֥עְתִּי
I rent
H7167
קָרַ֥עְתִּי
I rent
Strong's:
H7167
Word #:
5 of 14
to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וָֽאֶמְרְטָ֞ה
and plucked off
H4803
וָֽאֶמְרְטָ֞ה
and plucked off
Strong's:
H4803
Word #:
9 of 14
to polish; by implication, to make bald (the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to sharpen
רֹאשִׁי֙
of my head
H7218
רֹאשִׁי֙
of my head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
11 of 14
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
Cross References
Nehemiah 1:4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,Joshua 7:6And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern mourning customs included sitting in silence, torn garments, disheveled appearance, and public display of grief. Ezra's extended shocked silence communicated both his personal devastation and the gravity of corporate sin. The public nature (at the temple or prominent location) meant the community witnessed his grief. This prophetic act called people to recognize sin's seriousness. His waiting until evening sacrifice shows he remained in this state approximately six hours.
Questions for Reflection
- What does prolonged grief over sin (sitting 'astonied' for hours) teach about taking seriously what God takes seriously?
- How does public display of mourning serve prophetic function in calling community to recognize sin's gravity?
Analysis & Commentary
Ezra's emotional devastation intensified: 'I sat down astonied until the evening sacrifice.' The word 'astonied' (Hebrew shamem) means desolated, appalled, devastated. He remained in this state for hours—from when he heard the news until 3 PM (evening sacrifice time). This prolonged grief demonstrates the seriousness of sin in godly perspective. Ezra didn't quickly move past shock to pragmatic problem-solving but deeply felt the offense against God. This models appropriate pastoral grief over congregational sin.