Ezra 9 8

Ezra 9:8 kjv

And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

Ezra 9:8 nkjv

And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

Ezra 9:8 niv

"But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.

Ezra 9:8 esv

But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.

Ezra 9:8 nlt

"But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the LORD our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery.

Ezra 9 verses

Ezra 9 8 Meaning

Ezra 9:8 expresses the profound confession of Ezra concerning God's undeserved grace towards the returned exiles. Despite their grave unfaithfulness, God, in His steadfast love, granted them a brief period of respite. This divine favor allowed a small remnant to survive and gain a secure foothold in His holy dwelling, giving them hope, clarity of vision, and a measure of renewed life. It highlights God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even when they stray.

Ezra 9 8 Context

Ezra chapter 9 records Ezra's profound prayer of confession and lament after he learns of the Israelites' abominable practice of intermarrying with the pagan peoples of the land, violating God's explicit commands and repeating the very sins that led to their seventy-year exile. This discovery devastates Ezra, who responds with a powerful display of mourning, tearing his garment and plucking hair from his head and beard. In verse 8, Ezra shifts from recounting the past sins and deserved judgment to acknowledging God's unmerited favor. Despite their repeated rebellion, God, in His gracious providence, had mercifully preserved a remnant of the exiles and allowed them to return to Judah, providing them a fragile, yet real, foothold in the land. This acknowledgment forms the foundation of his heartfelt plea for divine mercy and intervention. Historically, this occurs during the post-exilic period, roughly a century after the first return, emphasizing the ongoing struggles and spiritual challenges faced by the small, vulnerable community striving to re-establish their covenant relationship with God in Judah.

Ezra 9 8 Word analysis

• And now (וְעַתָּה, wə‘attāh): A transitional conjunction, marking a shift from reflection on judgment and sin to an acknowledgement of current reality and God's surprising grace. It signals a turning point in Ezra's thought.
• for a short moment (לְמִצְעָר, ləmiṣ‘ār): "Little" or "small amount." Emphasizes the brevity and perhaps the fragility of their current respite. It highlights that their deliverance and present state of recovery are not complete or permanent yet, but a temporary divine intervention.
• grace (חֵן, ḥēn): Unmerited favor, undeserved kindness, benevolent disposition. It denotes God's freely given compassion and good will, independent of human merit or deservingness. This word underlines that their survival is solely due to God's character.
• been shown (נִמְצָה, nimṣā’āh): From matsa, "to find, obtain." In the passive, it suggests that grace has "been found for them" or "been obtained" for them, highlighting divine initiation and action.
• from the LORD our God (מֵאֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, mē’ēṯ Yahweh Eloheinu): The ultimate source of all blessings. The combination of "Yahweh" (covenant God) and "Elohim" (Creator God) underscores His unique power and covenant faithfulness, especially to His people Israel.
• to leave (לְהַשְׁאִיר, ləhaš’îr): To cause to remain, preserve. This verb implies intentional action on God's part to sustain a portion, preventing complete destruction. It introduces the concept of a "remnant."
• a remnant (פְּלֵיטָה, pəleṭāh): "Escape, deliverance, survivors." Refers to a small group of people who survived a calamity, preserving the lineage or covenant people. It's a key theological concept emphasizing God's preservation despite judgment.
• and to give us (וְלָתֶת לָנוּ, wəläṯeṯ lănû): A direct act of divine provision.
• a peg/nail (יָתֵד, yāṯēḏ): This can refer to a tent peg, which provides stability for a dwelling, or a nail used to secure something valuable, particularly in a holy place. Metaphorically, it signifies a secure position, a firm foothold, a fixed place, or even a source of reliance and support.
• in His holy place (בְּמָקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ, bəmäqôm qodšô): Refers to the Temple or Jerusalem. This implies being established securely within the sacred city and able to engage in divine worship, which was a core purpose of their return.
• that our God may enlighten our eyes (לְהָאִיר עֵינֵינוּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, ləhā’îr ‘êyênênû Eloheinu): "To give light to our eyes." Figuratively, to grant understanding, insight, hope, spiritual perception, or to refresh and invigorate. It denotes a turning away from despair and spiritual blindness towards a renewed sense of purpose and divine truth.
• and give us a little reviving (וְלָתֵת לָנוּ מִחְיָה מְעַט, wəläṯēṯ lănû miḥyâ mə‘aṭ): Miḥyah means "preservation of life, means of living, refreshment, revival." "Little" again underscores the limited yet profound nature of God's provision. It's a taste of restoration, not full recovery, but enough to sustain hope and life.

• Words-group Analysis
• "And now for a short moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God to leave us a remnant": This phrase captures the essence of God's sovereign, unmerited grace. Despite deserving utter destruction due to their forefathers' sins, God acted decisively, even if for a perceived brief period, to preserve a core group. This divine election underscores that their existence is purely by God's choice and compassion, not human effort.
• "and to give us a peg in His holy place": This imagery powerfully conveys stability and secure establishment. After exile, being allowed to reside in Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (God's holy place) meant a divinely granted foundation, a secure point to rebuild their covenant life, preventing further drifting. This "peg" represents both physical settlement and spiritual rooting.
• "that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little reviving": These twin expressions speak to spiritual and physical renewal. "Enlighten our eyes" signifies gaining clear spiritual understanding and hope, dispelling the darkness of despair and guilt. "Little reviving" refers to a partial but real restoration of life, strength, and vitality, necessary to sustain them through ongoing challenges and to continue the work of restoration.

Ezra 9 8 Bonus section

The concept of the "peg" (יָתֵד, yathed) has deep significance. Beyond merely a tent peg, it implies permanence and support. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a peg often held valuable items, symbolizing reliability and the ability to hold things together. The image of a secure "peg in His holy place" might foreshadow the ultimate secure "peg" or "cornerstone" that is Jesus Christ (Isa 22:23-24 applies the "nail in a sure place" to Eliakim, a type of Christ; Zech 10:4 attributes the "tent peg" and "cornerstone" to a future leader of Judah, also pointing to Christ). This shows that while the returned exiles found temporary stability through God's grace, the full and eternal security of God's people is ultimately found in His Messiah, who truly provides the unshakeable foundation and secure place in the eternal spiritual temple. The "little reviving" also speaks to the ongoing, progressive nature of God's work of salvation, starting small but destined for completion.

Ezra 9 8 Commentary

Ezra's confession in verse 8 is a profound acknowledgment of God's scandalous grace. Despite their history of covenant breaking, culminating in the recent apostasy of intermarriage, God did not abandon His people entirely. The "short moment" highlights the limited window of mercy after severe judgment, yet within that small window, divine favor was unmistakably present. God chose to "leave a remnant," preventing their total annihilation and preserving His covenant lineage, a testimony to His faithfulness despite human failure. The provision of a "peg in His holy place" signifies a stable, albeit perhaps precarious, re-establishment in Jerusalem and the re-initiation of worship. This secured presence provided the very ground for their survival and mission. Furthermore, this grace also translated into spiritual "enlightenment" – a clarity of vision and purpose after the dimness of despair and the "reviving" of their spirits, offering hope and vitality where spiritual death was imminent. This verse emphasizes that every blessing, however small, after a period of deserved judgment, is solely attributable to God's enduring love and mercy, providing strength for continued perseverance.