Ezra 9:6
What does Ezra 9:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 9:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 9:6 means
Ezra begins by confessing shame so deep he blushes to look up to God. He identifies with the people: “our iniquities… our guiltiness.” The imagery of sins rising over the head and up to the heavens pictures guilt as overwhelming and undeniable. This is not an attempt to minimize or excuse but to acknowledge the true weight of sin in God’s sight. Ezra approaches God as holy and himself as needy, seeking mercy, not asserting merit. Confession starts here: God is right; we are wrong; our sin is more than we can bear. Such honesty opens the way for grace because it refuses to hide or redefine what offends God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I said, O my God, shame keeps me from lifting up my face to you, my God: for our sins are increased higher than our heads and our evil-doing has come up to heaven.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and say, `O my God, I have been ashamed, and have blushed to lift up, O my God, my face unto Thee, for our iniquities have increased over the head, and our guilt hath become great unto the heavens.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins are grown up even unto heaven,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and said: O myGod, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, myGod; for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up to the heavens.
Context
The prayer begins (verses 6–15) with confession. Verse 6 sets the tone: deep shame and corporate solidarity. This leads into a historical summary in verse 7, explaining how long-standing guilt led to judgment. The prayer will then turn to the recent mercy God showed in restoring a remnant (verses 8–9), creating a stark contrast with the present relapse into disobedience (verses 10–12). The sequence underscores that confession remembers both sin and grace.
v.5And at the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto Jehovah my God;
v.6This passage
v.7Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 3:24
But the shameful thing hath devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
- Ezra 9:13
And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,
- Romans 6:21
What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
- Jeremiah 31:19
Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
- Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Revelation 18:5
for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.