Bible Strands
Ezra 7:9
He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records Ezra’s travel timeline, noting his departure from Babylon on the first day of the first month and his arrival in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month.
The words — כִּי (Ki) translates literally as "for," introducing the causal clause. הַמַּעֲלָה (ha.ma'alah) means "the going up," specifying the geographic ascent from Babylon.
The thread — The phrase "gracious hand of his God" echoes the same theological claim in Nehemiah 2:18, while the movement from Babylon aligns with the earlier mention of Ezra coming up from that city in Ezra 7:6.
Why it lands — The text states that God’s hand enabled the journey, immediately followed by Ezra’s commitment to study, practice, and teach the Law in Israel.
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
For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Cross-references
- Ezra 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
- Nehemiah 2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.
- Nehemiah 2:18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.