Ezra 7:28
What does Ezra 7:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 7:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 7:28 means
Ezra testifies that God extended lovingkindness to him before the king, counselors, and mighty princes. Strengthened by Jehovah’s hand, he gathered chief men from Israel to accompany him. The verse links inner encouragement to outward action: divine favor emboldens Ezra to lead decisively. Public grace before powerful people paves the way for assembling a capable team. This concluding note returns to the chapter’s theme—the hand of God guiding events—and shows that true leadership in God’s work arises from His strengthening presence. Ezra’s response is practical and faithful: he organizes people to walk through the open door God has provided.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And has given mercy to me before the king and his government and before all the king's great captains. And I was made strong by the hand of the Lord my God which was on me, and I got together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and unto me hath stretched out kindness before the king and his counsellors, and before all the mighty heads of the king: and I have strengthened myself as the hand of Jehovah my God <FI>is<Fi> upon me, and I gather out of Israel heads to go up with me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And hath inclined his mercy toward me before the king and his counsellors, and all the mighty princes of the king: and I being strengthened by the hand of the Lord my God, which was upon me, gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened, as the hand of Jehovah myGod was upon me; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Context
The chapter ends with Ezra’s personal acknowledgment of God’s favor and the concrete step of recruiting leaders for the journey. Having traced genealogy, journey timing, the royal decree, and doxology, the narrative is poised to detail the company that returns and the implementation of the commission in subsequent chapters. The closing emphasis on God’s hand ties back to verses 6 and 9, bookending the account with providence and gratitude.
v.27Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem;
v.28This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 43:14
and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release unto you your other brother and Benjamin. And if I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
- Ezra 9:9
For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
- Nehemiah 2:8
and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertaineth to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
- Jonah 3:7
And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;
- 2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
- Ezra 7:14
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand,