Ezra 9:4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

◄ Ezra 9:4 ►

New International Version
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.

New Living Translation
Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this outrage committed by the returned exiles. And I sat there utterly appalled until the time of the evening sacrifice.

English Standard Version
Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.

Berean Standard Bible
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

New American Standard Bible
Then everyone who was frightened by the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

NASB 1995
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

NASB 1977
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

Amplified Bible
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me as I sat appalled until the evening offering.

Christian Standard Bible
Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.

American Standard Version
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening oblation.

Contemporary English Version
until the time for the evening sacrifice. Many of our people were greatly concerned and gathered around me, because the God of Israel had warned us to stay away from foreigners.

English Revised Version
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat astonied until the evening oblation.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since the former exiles had been unfaithful, everyone who gathered around me there trembled at the words of the God of Israel. I sat in shock until the evening sacrifice.

Good News Translation
I sat there grieving until the time for the evening sacrifice to be offered, and people began to gather around me--all those who were frightened because of what the God of Israel had said about the sins of those who had returned from exile.

International Standard Version
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered together as a group because of the sin committed by those who had been led astray. As for me, I remained seated, in shock, until the evening sacrifice.

Majority Standard Bible
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

NET Bible
Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile. Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.

New Heart English Bible
Then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then were assembled to 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 confounded until the evening sacrifice.

World English Bible
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and to me are gathered everyone trembling at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of the expulsion, and I am sitting astonished until the present of the evening.

Young's Literal Translation
and unto me are gathered every one trembling at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of the removal, and I am sitting astonished till the present of the evening.

Smith's Literal Translation
And to me all will assemble, trembling at the word of the God of Israel for the transgression of the exile; and I sat astonished till the sacrifice of the evening.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there were assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that were come from the captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then all those who feared the word of the God of Israel gathered to me, because of the transgression of those who had arrived from the captivity. And I sat in sorrow, until the evening sacrifice.

New American Bible
Around me gathered all who were in dread of the sentence of the God of Israel on the apostasy of the exiles, while I remained devastated until the evening sacrifice.

New Revised Standard Version
Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then all those who were diligent concerning the word of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of the exiles, assembled before me; and I sat speechless until the ninth hour.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all those who were concerning themselves about the word of the God of Israel assembled to me about the evil that the children of the captivity had done, and I was sitting and was speechless until the ninth hour.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity; and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples
…3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror. 4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Daniel 9:3-4
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. / And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Psalm 119:120
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.

Isaiah 66:2
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Jeremiah 23:9
As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones tremble. I have become like a drunkard, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD, because of His holy words.

2 Kings 22:11
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes

2 Chronicles 34:27
because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

Leviticus 26:40-42
But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— / and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, / then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Deuteronomy 9:18-19
Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. / For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

James 4:9-10
Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. / Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Corinthians 5:2
And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

2 Corinthians 7:10-11
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. / Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Romans 9:2-3
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. / For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

Treasury of Scripture

Then were assembled to 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 astonished until the evening sacrifice.

trembled

Ezra 10:3
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.

2 Chronicles 34:27
Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

Psalm 119:136
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

until

Exodus 29:39
The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

Daniel 9:21
Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Acts 3:1
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

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Account Appalled Assembled Astonied Captivity Carried Confounded Evening Exiles Faithlessness Fear Gathered Grief Israel Kept Oblation Offering Overcome Overwhelmed Round Sacrifice Sat Together Transgression Trembled Trespass Unfaithfulness Words

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Ezra 9

1. Ezra mourns for the affinity of the people with strangers
5. He prays unto God, with confession of sins

Berean Study Bible

Then everyone who trembled
The phrase "everyone who trembled" indicates a deep reverence and fear of God, a common theme throughout the Old Testament. The Hebrew root for "trembled" is "charad," which conveys a sense of quaking or shaking, often associated with awe or fear in the presence of divine revelation. This trembling is not merely physical but spiritual, reflecting a heart sensitive to God's holiness and commands. It suggests a community of believers who are deeply aware of their covenant relationship with God and the seriousness of sin.

at the words of the God of Israel
The "words of the God of Israel" refer to the divine commandments and teachings given through the Law and the prophets. This phrase underscores the authority and sacredness of Scripture as the ultimate guide for faith and practice. Historically, the Israelites were a people defined by their covenant with God, and His words were central to their identity and mission. The reverence for God's words highlights the importance of Scripture in guiding the community back to faithfulness.

gathered around me
The act of gathering "around me" signifies unity and collective concern among those who feared God. Ezra, as a scribe and leader, becomes a focal point for those seeking to address the spiritual crisis. This gathering is not just physical but symbolic of a shared commitment to repentance and reform. It reflects the biblical principle of community accountability and the role of godly leadership in guiding people back to righteousness.

because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles
"Unfaithfulness" here is translated from the Hebrew word "ma'al," which implies treachery or betrayal, particularly in a covenantal context. The "exiles" were those who had returned from Babylonian captivity, yet they had fallen into practices that violated their covenant with God, such as intermarrying with pagan nations. This unfaithfulness was a serious breach of the Law, threatening the spiritual integrity and identity of the people. Historically, this period was marked by efforts to restore religious purity and adherence to the Law.

while I sat there appalled
Ezra's reaction of being "appalled" reflects a profound sense of shock and dismay at the people's sin. The Hebrew word "shamem" conveys a state of desolation or horror, indicating the gravity of the situation. Ezra's response is one of deep emotional and spiritual turmoil, highlighting the seriousness with which sin should be regarded. It serves as a model for righteous indignation and the appropriate response to communal sin.

until the evening offering
The "evening offering" refers to the daily sacrifice made in the temple, a time of prayer and reflection. This practice was a vital part of Israel's worship, symbolizing atonement and communion with God. Ezra's waiting until this time suggests a period of contemplation and preparation for intercession. It underscores the importance of aligning personal and communal repentance with established patterns of worship and sacrifice, pointing to the need for atonement and divine forgiveness.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - Then were assembled unto me. The open manifestation by Ezra of his grief and horror produced an immediate effect. A crowd assembled around him, attracted by the unusual sight - partly sympathizing, partly no doubt curious. Every one came that trembled at the words of the God of Israel; by which is meant not so much all God-fearing persons (see Isaiah 66:2) as all who were alarmed at the transgression of the commands of God (Ezra 10:3), and at the threats which the Law contained against transgressors (Deuteronomy 7:4). Because of the transgression of those that had been carried away. The transgression of "the children of the captivity" (Ezra 4:1) - of those who had been removed to Babylon and had returned under Zerubbabel. I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. As morning is the time for business in the East, we may assume that the princes had waited upon Ezra tolerably early in the day - before noon, at any rate - to communicate their intelligence. The evening sacrifice took place at three in the afternoon. Ezra must, therefore, either from the intensity of his own feelings or with the view of impressing the people, have "sat astonied" - speechless and motionless - for several hours. EZRA'S CONFESSION AND PRAYER TO GOD (Ezra 9:5-15). The most remarkable feature of Ezra's confession is the thoroughness with which he identifies himself with his erring countrymen, blushes for their transgressions, and is ashamed for their misconduct. All their sins he appears to consider as his sins, all their disobedience as his disobedience, all their perils as his perils. Another striking feature is his sense of the exceeding sinfulness of the particular sin of the time (see vers. 6, 7, 10). He views it as a "great trespass" - one that "is grown up into the heavens" - which is equivalent to a complete forsaking of God's commandments, and on account of Which he and his people "cannot stand before" God. This feeling seems based partly on the nature of the sin itself (ver. 14), but also, and in an especial way, on a strong sense of the ingratitude shown by the people in turning from God so soon after he had forgiven their former sins against him, and allowed them to return from the captivity, rebuild the temple, and re-establish themselves as a nation. If after their deliverance they again fell away, the sin could not but be unpardonable; and the punishment to be expected was a final uprooting and destruction from which there could be no recovery (vers. 13, 14).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then everyone
כֹּ֤ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who trembled
חָרֵד֙ (ḥā·rêḏ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2730: Fearful, reverential

at the words
בְּדִבְרֵ֣י (bə·ḏiḇ·rê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the God
אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (’ĕ·lō·hê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

gathered
יֵאָסְפ֗וּ (yê·’ā·sə·p̄ū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

around me
וְאֵלַ֣י (wə·’ê·lay)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

because of
עַ֖ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the unfaithfulness
מַ֣עַל (ma·‘al)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4604: An unfaithful or treacherous act

of the exiles,
הַגּוֹלָ֑ה (hag·gō·w·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1473: Exile, exiles

while I
וַאֲנִי֙ (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

sat there
יֹשֵׁ֣ב (yō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in horror
מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם (mə·šō·w·mêm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy

until
עַ֖ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the evening
הָעָֽרֶב׃ (hā·‘ā·reḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

offering.
לְמִנְחַ֥ת (lə·min·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4503: A donation, tribute, a sacrificial offering

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OT History: Ezra 9:4 Then were assembled to me everyone who (Ezr. Ez)