Ezra 10:6
What does Ezra 10:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 10:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 10:6 means
Ezra withdraws to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, refusing food and water as he mourns the community’s trespass. His fasting underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for divine help beyond human resolve. Though a plan is in motion, Ezra’s heart remains broken before God. Leadership here is not merely administrative; it is priestly sorrow that seeks God’s mercy. The mention of “them of the captivity” highlights that those restored from exile are again falling short. Ezra’s grief stands as a plea that the fresh start God granted not be wasted, and that the community be reclaimed for holiness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Ezra got up from before the house of God and went into the room of Jehohanan, the son of Eliashib; but when he came there, he took no food or drink, for he was sorrowing for the sin of those who had come back.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Ezra riseth from before the house of God, and goeth unto the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib; yea, he goeth there, bread he hath not eaten, and water he hath not drunk, for he is mourning because of the trespass of the removal.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliasib, and entered in thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned for the transgression of them that were come out of the captivity.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Ezra arose from before the house ofGod, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came thither, he ate no bread and drank no water; for he mourned because of the unfaithfulness of them that had been carried away.
Context
After taking the oath, Ezra does not rush into enforcement without seeking God in continued lament. This deepens the spiritual tone and guards against harshness detached from compassion. The subsequent verses move to public proclamation and gathering. The inner work of mourning and fasting fuels the outer work of correction. The storyline now transitions from Ezra’s private devotion to a kingdom-wide call to assemble in Jerusalem under threat of forfeiture for noncompliance, signaling the urgent, communal gravity of the issue.
v.5Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.
v.6This passage
v.7And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 34:28
And he was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
- Ezra 10:1
Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.
- Deuteronomy 9:18
And I fell down before Jehovah, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water; because of all your sin which ye sinned, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
- Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananel.
- Nehemiah 3:20
After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
- Job 23:12
I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.