Ezra 9:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →On hearing the news, Ezra tears his clothing, pulls hair from his head and beard, and sits down appalled.
What Does Ezra 9:3 Mean?
Ezra responds not with anger at the people but with public, bodily signs of grief. Tearing the garment and mantle was a known expression of mourning and shock; pulling out hair intensified it. He then sits stunned, the posture of one overwhelmed.
His reaction reveals a heart that feels sin as a real wound, not a mere rule broken. He does not rush to scold or to fix; he first sits with the weight of it before God. Such grief over wrongdoing is the soil from which genuine repentance grows, and it shows a leader who loves both the Lord and the people enough to be broken by their failure.
Ezra 9:3 in the Original Language
shamem (שָׁמֵם), 'astonied' -- to be appalled, stunned into stillness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 9:3
What does Ezra 9:3 mean?
On hearing the news, Ezra tears his clothing, pulls hair from his head and beard, and sits down appalled.