Ezra 9:15
What does Ezra 9:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 9:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 9:15 means
Ezra ends with God’s character and their condition. Jehovah, the God of Israel, is righteous; His ways are true and His judgments just. The people stand as a spared remnant, but also as guilty before Him, with no defense—“none can stand before thee because of this.” The only hope is in God’s mercy that flows from His righteousness, not from their worthiness. Ezra does not bargain; he submits. This closing acknowledges that if God judges, He is right; if He spares, it is pure grace. It anticipates the need for a righteousness not our own to stand before God, a need later fulfilled in the gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before thee because of this.
KJV
King James Version · 1611O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before thee because of this.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949O Lord God of Israel, righteousness is yours; we are only a small band which has been kept from death, as at this day: see, we are before you in our sin; for no one may keep his place before you because of this.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`O Jehovah, God of Israel, righteous <FI>art<Fi> Thou, for we have been left an escape, as <FI>it is<Fi> this day; lo, we <FI>are<Fi> before Thee in our guilt, for there is none to stand before Thee concerning this.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there can be no standing before thee in this matter.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jehovah,God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we are a remnant that is escaped, as [it is] this day. Behold, we are before thee in our trespasses; for there is no standing before thee because of this.
Context
The prayer concludes by affirming God’s righteousness and the people’s guilt. This echoes themes throughout the chapter: covenant violation (verses 1–2), grief (verses 3–4), confession (verses 6–7), mercy (verses 8–9, 13), commandment (verses 11–12), and the danger of renewed sin (verse 14). Verse 15 leaves the matter in God’s hands, inviting the community to respond with repentance and reform in the next chapter. The flow moves from confession to quiet submission, preparing for practical steps of restoration.
v.14shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
v.15This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Lamentations 3:22
It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
- Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?
- Psalms 130:3
If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
- Daniel 9:14
Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice.
- Romans 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
- Job 9:2
Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?