The Meaning of Ezra 9:11 Explained

Ezra 9:11

KJV: Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

YLT: that Thou hast commanded by the hands of thy servants the prophets, saying, The land into which ye are going to possess it, is a land of impurity, by the impurity of the people of the lands, by their abominations with which they have filled it -- from mouth unto mouth -- by their uncleanness;

Darby: which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the filthiness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations with which they have filled it from one end to another through their uncleanness.

ASV: which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Which thou hast commanded  by  thy servants  the prophets,  saying,  The land,  unto which ye go  to possess  it, is an unclean  land  with the filthiness  of the people  of the lands,  with their abominations,  which have filled  it from one end  to another  with their uncleanness. 

What does Ezra 9:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 9:1-15 - A Leader's Sorrows For His People's Sins
The mingling of the holy seed with heathen peoples was always the curse of Israel, and it has been the temptation of God's children in every age. Do we sufficiently tremble at the words of the God of Israel because of our sins or those of others? The humiliation and anguish of soul experienced by Ezra and his associates are a great rebuke to us. We are indignant, but we do not view sin from God's standpoint. Notice the humility of his prayer, I blush to lift up my face; its vicarious confession of sin; its acknowledgment of God's grace in giving a little reviving; its recital of the aggravation which had dyed their sin of a deeper hue. Israel was intended to live in Canaan as a separated people. The land itself could not yield its good, or remain their permanent inheritance on condition of their fidelity to God. When confession of sin has been made, let us stand before God claiming forgiveness, acceptance, and cleansing, through the precious blood of Christ, 1 John 1:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 9

1  Ezra mourns for the affinity of the people with strangers
5  He prays unto God, with confession of sins

What do the individual words in Ezra 9:11 mean?

which You commanded by Your servants the prophets saying the land you are entering to possess land an unclean is with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands with their abominations have filled it from one end to another with their impurity
אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּ֗יתָ בְּיַ֨ד עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ הַנְּבִיאִים֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הָאָ֗רֶץ אַתֶּ֤ם בָּאִים֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ אֶ֤רֶץ נִדָּה֙ הִ֔יא בְּנִדַּ֖ת עַמֵּ֣י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת בְּתוֹעֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם מִלְא֛וּהָ מִפֶּ֥ה אֶל־ פֶּ֖ה בְּטֻמְאָתָֽם

צִוִּ֗יתָ  You  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ  Your  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
הַנְּבִיאִים֮  the  prophets 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
לֵאמֹר֒  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָאָ֗רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
בָּאִים֙  are  entering 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ  to  possess 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: יָרַשׁ  
Sense: to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir.
אֶ֤רֶץ  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
נִדָּה֙  an  unclean 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נִדָּה  
Sense: impurity, filthiness, menstruous, set apart.
בְּנִדַּ֖ת  with  the  uncleanness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נִדָּה  
Sense: impurity, filthiness, menstruous, set apart.
עַמֵּ֣י  of  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת  of  the  lands 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
בְּתוֹעֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם  with  their  abominations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: תֹּועֵבָה  
Sense: a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.
מִלְא֛וּהָ  have  filled  it 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural, third person feminine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
מִפֶּ֥ה  from  one  end 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
פֶּ֖ה  another 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
בְּטֻמְאָתָֽם  with  their  impurity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: טֻמְאָה  
Sense: uncleanness.