The Meaning of Ezra 8:21 Explained

Ezra 8:21

KJV: Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

YLT: And I proclaim there a fast, by the river Ahava, to afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a right way for us, and for our infants, and for all our substance,

Darby: And I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

ASV: Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then I proclaimed  a fast  there, at the river  of Ahava,  that we might afflict  ourselves before  our God,  to seek  of him a right  way  for us, and for our little ones,  and for all our substance. 

What does Ezra 8:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 8:1-23 - United Prayer For Guidance
The number of men who accompanied Ezra amounted to 1754, but the women and children would bring up the gross total to about 7000. The lack of Levites was very serious. These should have been among the very first. A deputation was therefore sent to a neighboring seminary or college, where they were being trained, and here again is the mention of the good hand of God. Sometimes hearts are ready and waiting for service, which need just a word or appeal to complete their plans. There is always special interest in this paragraph for those who are venturing forth on the untried and unknown. The camp at Ahava; the sending for the priests; the waiting for their coming; the recognition of God's good hand in sending a man of discretion; and then the fast and prayer for protection. We can almost see the little band on the point of plunging into the inhospitable and dangerous desert, spending hours in prayer, and restrained from requesting an escort, lest they might invalidate their leader's trustful boast. How careful we should be to do nothing inconsistent with the proud position that faith gives us in the keeping power of God! Seek Him, O soul of mine, and He will be found, and His hand shall be upon thee for good. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 8

1  The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon
15  He sends to Iddo for ministers for the temple
21  He keeps a fast
24  He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests
31  From Ahava they come to Jerusalem
33  The treasure is weighed in the temple
36  The commission is delivered

What do the individual words in Ezra 8:21 mean?

And I proclaimed there a fast at the river Ahava that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him the way right for us and our little ones and all our possessions
וָאֶקְרָ֨א שָׁ֥ם צוֹם֙ עַל־ הַנָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א לְהִתְעַנּ֖וֹת לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥נוּ וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ וּלְכָל־ רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ

וָאֶקְרָ֨א  And  I  proclaimed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
צוֹם֙  a  fast 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֹום  
Sense: fast, fasting.
עַל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַנָּהָ֣ר  the  river 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
אַהֲוָ֔א  Ahava 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַהֲוָא  
Sense: town or area in Babylonia.
לְהִתְעַנּ֖וֹת  that  we  might  humble  ourselves 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: עָנָה 
Sense: (Qal) to be occupied, be busied with.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ  to  seek 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙  from  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
דֶּ֣רֶךְ  the  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
יְשָׁרָ֔ה  right 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
לָ֥נוּ  for  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ  and  our  little  ones 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: טַף 
Sense: children, little children, little ones.
וּלְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ  our  possessions 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: רְכוּשׁ  
Sense: property, goods, possessions.