Ezra 9:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ezra recalls that through the prophets God had warned the land was defiled by the corrupt practices of its peoples, filling it from end to end with uncleanness.
What Does Ezra 9:11 Mean?
Ezra grounds the confession in God's own prior word. The Lord had warned through 'his servants the prophets' that the land they were entering was defiled by the practices of its inhabitants, corruption so pervasive it filled the land from one end to the other. The present sin was no surprise; it broke a clear, long-standing command.
To call the land 'unclean' is to name the moral and spiritual rot of idolatry, not to despise a place or a people. The warning had always been about keeping the heart undivided in worship. By citing the prophets, Ezra shows that God's word had not been silent; the failure lay in not heeding what He had plainly spoken.
Ezra 9:11 in the Original Language
niddah (נִדָּה), 'uncleanness' -- ritual and moral impurity that defiles and separates from holiness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 9:11
What does Ezra 9:11 mean?
Ezra recalls that through the prophets God had warned the land was defiled by the corrupt practices of its peoples, filling it from end to end with uncleanness.