Ezra 9:8
What does Ezra 9:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 9:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 9:8 means
Against the dark backdrop of judgment, Ezra marvels that God granted “for a little moment” grace: He preserved a remnant and gave them “a nail in his holy place”—a secure foothold in the temple, a sign of stability and belonging. God lightened their eyes and gave a small revival even while they remained under foreign rule. The picture is of mercy out of proportion to their deserts. Though still bondmen, they were not abandoned. The restored worship and community life in Jerusalem were gifts, not rights—meant to rekindle faithfulness, not license further compromise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And now for a little time grace has come to us from the Lord our God, to let a small band of us get free and to give us a nail in his holy place, so that our God may give light to our eyes and a measure of new life in our prison chains.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And now, as a small moment hath grace been from Jehovah our God, to leave to us an escape, and to give to us a nail in His holy place, by our God's enlightening our eyes, and by giving us a little quickening in our servitude;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And now as a little, and for a moment has our prayer been made before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would give us a little life in our bondage.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And now for a little space there hath been favour from Jehovah ourGod, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that ourGod may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Context
After recounting judgment (verse 7), verse 8 pivots to mercy. The remnant, the peg in the holy place, and renewed vitality show God’s kindness despite Israel’s history. This sets up verse 9, which expands on how God worked through Persian rulers to bless His people. The contrast is crucial: grace received should lead to obedience. The narrative will soon press this contrast into a searching question—how can they break God’s commandments again after such favor? (verses 10–12).
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.
v.8This passage
v.9For 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 42:2
and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we pray thee, our supplication be presented before thee, and pray for us unto Jehovah thy God, even for all this remnant (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us),
- 2 Kings 19:4
It may be Jehovah thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
- Ezekiel 14:22
Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be carried forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings; and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
- Zechariah 10:4
From him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.
- Zechariah 8:12
For there shall be the seed of peace; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
- Romans 9:27
And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved: