Ezra 7:9
What does Ezra 7:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 7:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 7:9 means
We learn the journey spanned from the first day of the first month to the first day of the fifth month—about four months. The text again credits success to “the good hand of his God upon him,” making divine providence the key explanation for safe passage. This travel notice underscores both human diligence and God’s protection. Such a coordinated departure date suggests intentional leadership, while the safe arrival emphasizes mercy amid potential dangers: distance, bandits, and logistics. By highlighting God’s hand, the verse teaches that spiritual work advances not merely by planning or royal support, but chiefly by God’s favor resting on faithful servants and their communities.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For, starting his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, he came to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, by the good help of his God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for on the first of the month he hath founded the ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he hath come in unto Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem according to the good hand of his God upon him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For upon the first of the first month the project of going up from Babylon was determined on, and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of hisGod upon him.
Context
Following the concise arrival statement, verse 9 provides journey duration and assigns credit to God. This prepares the reader to understand Ezra’s inner commitment (verse 10) as the spiritual engine behind the mission, and the king’s decree (verses 11–26) as a providential tool. The flow knits together genealogy, journey, piety, and royal policy into a coherent account of restoration under God’s guidance. The repeated phrase about God’s hand will echo again at the chapter’s close, framing the whole episode in praise.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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.
- Nehemiah 2:18
And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
- Ezra 7:6
this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.