Bible Strands
Ezra 10:1
While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezra stands before the house of God in a moment of national crisis following the exposure of intermarriage with foreign peoples, while a large crowd of Israelite men, women, and children gathers around him.
The words — הִתְוַדּוֹתוֹ (hit.vado.T/o) means "his confession" and מִתְנַפֵּל (mit.na.Pel) means "prostrating himself," capturing the physical posture of repentance accompanying his prayer.
The thread — This pattern of corporate weeping and physical prostration during confession appears in Daniel 9:20 and echoes the lament over disobedience in Psalms 119:136 and the visceral grief recorded in Romans 9:2.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that national covenant failure produces tangible, collective grief rather than abstract discussion, requiring the community to physically and emotionally confront its breach of obligation before God.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
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.
Cross-references
- Daniel 9:20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—
- Psalms 119:136 My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.
- Romans 9:2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
- 1 Kings 8:30 Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.
- 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Nehemiah 8:9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.
- Daniel 9:3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
- Luke 19:41 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it
- Zechariah 12:10 Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
- 1 Kings 9:3 And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.