Ezra 10:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Ezra withdraws to a chamber and fasts from food and water, mourning the sin of the returned exiles.
What Does Ezra 10:6 Mean?
After the oath, Ezra leaves the temple court and goes into a private chamber belonging to Johanan. There he fasts completely, taking neither bread nor water, in continued mourning over the sin of the people who had returned from exile. His public leadership is matched by private grief; the reform is not a matter of policy alone but of a broken heart before God.
Ezra's fasting reveals that his sorrow was genuine, not a performance for the crowd. The people he wept for were those who had been carried away, the very community God had graciously brought home, now compromising the loyalty that exile was meant to purify. A shepherd's heart aches over the sins of those he serves. Such intercessory mourning anticipates the greater Servant who would carry His people's transgressions as His own grief, bearing in love what we had broken.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 10:6
What does Ezra 10:6 mean?
Ezra withdraws to a chamber and fasts from food and water, mourning the sin of the returned exiles.