The Meaning of Ezra 9:4 Explained

Ezra 9:4

KJV: Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

YLT: and unto me are gathered every one trembling at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of the removal, and I am sitting astonished till the present of the evening.

Darby: Then were assembled to me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the unfaithfulness of those that had been carried away; and I sat overwhelmed until the evening oblation.

ASV: Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening oblation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then were assembled  unto me every one that trembled  at the words  of the God  of Israel,  because of the transgression  of those that had been carried away;  and I sat  astonied  until the evening  sacrifice. 

What does Ezra 9:4 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 9:4 mean?

And to me assembled everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive and I sat astonished until that sacrifice the evening
וְאֵלַ֣י יֵאָסְפ֗וּ כֹּ֤ל חָרֵד֙ בְּדִבְרֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ל מַ֣עַל הַגּוֹלָ֑ה וַאֲנִי֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם עַ֖ד לְמִנְחַ֥ת הָעָֽרֶב

וְאֵלַ֣י  And  to  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יֵאָסְפ֗וּ  assembled 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
כֹּ֤ל  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חָרֵד֙  who  trembled 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָרֵד  
Sense: trembling, fearful, afraid.
בְּדִבְרֵ֣י  at  the  words 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
אֱלֹהֵֽי־  of  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עַ֖ל  because 
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.
מַ֣עַל  of  the  transgression 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
הַגּוֹלָ֑ה  of  those  who  had  been  carried  away  captive 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֹּולָה  
Sense: exiles, exile, captivity.
וַאֲנִי֙  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
יֹשֵׁ֣ב  sat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם  astonished 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמֵם  
Sense: to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy.
עַ֖ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
לְמִנְחַ֥ת  that  sacrifice 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
הָעָֽרֶב  the  evening 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב  
Sense: evening, night, sunset.