Ezra 6:21
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הַשָּׁבִים֙ מֵֽהַגֹּולָ֔ה וְכֹ֗ל הַנִּבְדָּ֛ל מִטֻּמְאַ֥ת גֹּויֵֽ־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לִדְרֹ֕שׁ לַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Main Action: וַיֹּאכְלוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל הַשָּׁבִים מֵהַגֹּלָה
וַיֹּאכְלוּ (“and they ate”) is a Qal wayyiqtol 3mp of א־כ־ל (“to eat”), narrating the main action of participation in the Passover meal.
- בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (“the sons of Israel”) — the primary subject
- הַשָּׁבִים מֵהַגֹּלָה (“those returning from the exile”) — participial phrase (הַשָּׁבִים, Qal participle mp of ש־ו־ב) describing those who came back from Babylonian captivity
This frames the act of eating as an act of covenant renewal by the returnees.
Inclusive Fellowship: וְכֹל הַנִּבְדָּל מִטֻּמְאַת גּוֹיֵי־הָאָרֶץ
וְכֹל הַנִּבְדָּל (“and everyone separated”) broadens the participants to include non-exiles who had purified themselves.
- הַנִּבְדָּל — Niphal participle of ב־ד־ל (“to separate, be distinct”), emphasizing voluntary separation
- מִטֻּמְאַת גּוֹיֵי־הָאָרֶץ — “from the impurity of the peoples of the land,” identifying ritual and moral separation
Participation is thus based not only on ethnicity but on purity and covenant loyalty.
Purpose of Separation: לִדְרֹשׁ לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
לִדְרֹשׁ (“to seek”) is a Qal infinitive construct of ד־ר־שׁ (“to seek, inquire”).
- לַיהוָה — “for YHWH”
- אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל — “the God of Israel”
Thus, the purpose of eating, purifying, and gathering is framed as a collective seeking after YHWH, emphasizing covenant renewal through worship.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Ezra 6:21
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאכְלוּ | א־כ־ל | Qal wayyiqtol (3mp) | “And they ate” — main narrative action |
| הַשָּׁבִים | ש־ו־ב | Qal participle (mp) | “Returning” — describing those from the exile |
| הַנִּבְדָּל | ב־ד־ל | Niphal participle (ms) | “Separated” — describing those purifying themselves |
| לִדְרֹשׁ | ד־ר־שׁ | Qal infinitive construct | “To seek” — purpose of gathering |
The Grammar of Covenant Restoration
Ezra 6:21 captures the spirit of post-exilic renewal through participial description and infinitive purpose clauses. The Hebrew grammar weaves together communal return, ritual purity, and devoted worship into a cohesive theological portrait — showing that true restoration is found not merely in returning to the land, but in seeking YHWH with separated and sanctified lives.
