Ezra 9:15 Meaning and Explanation
“O 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ezra ends his prayer declaring God righteous, confessing that they stand before Him guilty and cannot stand in His presence on their own.
What Does Ezra 9:15 Mean?
The prayer closes by laying everything bare before God. Ezra affirms the Lord's righteousness, marvels that any remnant survives, and then confesses plainly: 'we are before thee in our trespasses.' He offers no bargain and no defense, only the admission that they cannot stand before God in their guilt.
This is confession at its most honest, ending not with a request but with surrender. Ezra leaves the people exposed before a righteous God, trusting mercy rather than merit. That very inability to stand on their own points beyond the prayer to the deeper need for One who can make the guilty able to stand, the hope toward which all such confession finally reaches.
Ezra 9:15 in the Original Language
tsaddiq (צַדִּיק), 'righteous' -- just and in the right, faithful to do what is good.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 9:15
What does Ezra 9:15 mean?
Ezra ends his prayer declaring God righteous, confessing that they stand before Him guilty and cannot stand in His presence on their own.