Ezra 7 28

Ezra 7:28 kjv

And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Ezra 7:28 nkjv

and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 7:28 niv

and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 7:28 esv

and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 7:28 nlt

And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the LORD my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.

Ezra 7 verses

Ezra 7 28 Meaning

Ezra 7:28 is a personal declaration of thanksgiving and insight from Ezra, directly attributing the favor he received from the Persian King Artaxerxes, his counselors, and mighty princes, entirely to the mercy and active "hand" of the LORD his God. This divine intervention empowered him, strengthening him for his significant mission: to gather key leaders from Israel and lead them back to Jerusalem. It highlights God's sovereign control over world rulers and His faithful provision and empowerment for those who serve His purposes.

Ezra 7 28 Context

Ezra 7 sets the stage for Ezra's journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. The chapter details a significant decree from King Artaxerxes, authorizing Ezra, "a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses" (Ezra 7:6), to lead another group of exiles back to Judah. This decree provided financial resources, administrative authority, and explicit permission to teach and enforce God's Law in the province beyond the River. Verse 28 serves as Ezra's personal interjection, a post-decree reflection within the narrative, expressing his profound gratitude and understanding that the extraordinary favor shown by the pagan king was not random or humanly engineered, but a direct result of God's active and merciful hand upon him. It transitions the narrative from the formal decree to the preparation for the journey itself. Historically, this return occurred approximately 58 years after the initial return under Zerubbabel, demonstrating God's ongoing commitment to His covenant people and the restoration of Judah.

Ezra 7 28 Word analysis

• and has extended mercy: The Hebrew word implied here is from ḥesed (חֶסֶד), which means "steadfast love," "lovingkindness," or "covenant mercy." It’s a foundational term in God's character, indicating loyalty and grace. For a pagan king to extend such chesed to Ezra is attributed directly to God, underscoring divine sovereignty and God's ability to soften hearts, even of those unaware of His direct influence.
• to me: Ezra's personal experience of divine favor. It emphasizes his role as God's chosen instrument.
• before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes: This highlights the public and influential nature of the favor Ezra received. God's hand moved the highest authorities in the most powerful empire of the time, illustrating His control over earthly governance. No human power could obstruct God's purpose for His people.
• so I was strengthened: The Hebrew va'etchazzēq (וָאֶתְחַזֵּק) is a Hithpael imperfect form of ḥāzaq, often translated "I strengthened myself" or "I was made strong." It indicates that while strength came from God, Ezra also actively took courage and seized the opportunity. It denotes an inner resolve and fortitude enabled by divine grace. This blend of divine enablement and human agency is critical in biblical leadership.
• according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me: The "hand of the LORD" is a biblical idiom signifying God's active power, guidance, protection, and sovereign enablement. It implies a palpable divine presence and direct intervention in events. The phrase "my God" deepens the personal nature of Ezra's faith and reliance on Yahweh. It grounds the preceding "strengthened" directly in God's activity, making it clear the empowerment was supernatural.
• and I gathered together: This marks Ezra's decisive action. Empowered by God, he didn't sit passively but diligently organized and led. This shows the necessary partnership between divine enabling and human obedience and effort.
• leading men from Israel: Ezra focused on rallying influential and capable individuals. This was a strategic aspect of the return, emphasizing leadership and organization for such a significant undertaking. These leaders would in turn gather others.
• to go up with me: The specific purpose of the gathering—to participate in the perilous but vital journey back to Jerusalem to rebuild and restore.

Ezra 7 28 Bonus section

The reflection in Ezra 7:28 marks a shift in narrative perspective. Chapters 1-6 of Ezra largely focus on Zerubbabel and Joshua's return, often presented from an objective, historical standpoint. Ezra 7-10 introduces Ezra's personal account, frequently marked by first-person pronouns, as seen vividly here. This personal touch highlights Ezra's deep piety and his consistent practice of discerning God's "hand" (Ezra 7:6, 8:18, 8:22, 8:31) in all circumstances. The mention of Artaxerxes, his counselors, and princes reveals the intricate political machinery through which God worked, making it clear that His influence permeated every level of authority in the then-dominant world power. This reasserts the Judean worldview that Yahweh, not a Persian deity, was truly supreme, demonstrating His ability to bring about His will even through unlikely means.

Ezra 7 28 Commentary

Ezra 7:28 is a powerful testament to God's sovereign control and faithfulness, viewed through the eyes of a devout servant. Ezra doesn't boast of his own diplomatic skill or persuasive power; instead, he humbly and gratefully attributes every success to the merciful hand of his God. The "mercy" (חֶסֶד, chesed) shown by a pagan king is an extraordinary demonstration that God rules in the affairs of men, even non-believers, bending their hearts and wills to serve His ultimate redemptive purposes. This subtly challenges any contemporary beliefs that powerful empires or their gods are self-sufficient. Ezra’s active response, "I was strengthened... and I gathered together," perfectly illustrates the dynamic interplay between divine enablement and human responsibility. God empowers, but individuals must respond in faith, courage, and action. This verse transforms a historical event into a spiritual lesson, reminding believers that divine favor is not accidental and that even the most formidable human authorities are subject to the will and "hand" of the Almighty. It undergirds all subsequent efforts of Ezra's mission with a theological foundation of dependence on God.