Ezra 8:22

For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ezra addresses the assembled exiles at the Ahava Canal, explaining his refusal of the king's military escort. The moment sits between the proclaimed fast (v.21) and the granted petition (v.23).

The words — בֹּשְׁתִּי (bo'sheti), "I was ashamed," is the hinge of the verse: a public leader naming his own embarrassment before the assembly as the stated reason for his decision.

The thread — The logic that God is gracious to those who seek Him and opposed to those who forsake Him echoes in 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 33:18, and 1 Peter 3:12.

Why it lands — The verse asks whether your first instinct in a dangerous situation is to secure a human guarantee or to trust the God you have already declared to be with you.

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

כִּ֣יkifor בֹ֗שְׁתִּיVo.she.tiI was ashamed לִשְׁא֤וֹלli/sh.'olto/ ask מִן־min-from הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha./Me.lekhthe/ king חַ֣יִלCha.yilan escort וּפָרָשִׁ֔יםu./fa.ra.Shimand/ horsemen לְעָזְרֵ֥נוּle./'a.ze.Re./nuto/ help/ us מֵאוֹיֵ֖בme./'o.Yevfrom/ an enemy בַּדָּ֑רֶךְba./Da.rekhon the/ journey כִּֽי־ki-for אָמַ֨רְנוּ'a.Mar.nuwe had said לַמֶּ֜לֶךְla./Me.lekhto the/ king לֵאמֹ֗רle./Mor<to>/ saying יַד־yad-[the] hand of אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our עַל־'al-[is] on כָּל־kol-all מְבַקְשָׁיו֙me.vak.Sha/v[those who] seek/ him לְטוֹבָ֔הle./to.Vahfor/ good וְעֻזּ֣וֹve./'u.Z/oand/ strength/ his וְאַפּ֔וֹve./'a.P/oand/ anger/ his עַ֖ל'al[are] towards כָּל־kol-all עֹזְבָֽיו׃'o.ze.Va/v[those who] forsake/ him

King James Version

For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

Cross-references

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Psalms 33:18 Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Psalms 34:22 The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
Hebrews 10:38 But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”