2 Esdras chapter 13
[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] The dream-vision of a man from the sea. The interpretation of the vision.
Note. The Book of Second Esdras is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches
THE DREAM-VISION OF A MAN FROM THE SEA
VERSE 1. It came to pass after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night.
after seven days:
2 Esdras 12:51. But I sat in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me. In those days, I ate only of the flowers of the field, and my food was from plants.
VERSE 2. Behold, a wind arose from the sea that moved all its waves.
wind. Or great wind.
VERSE 3. I saw, and behold, [this wind caused to come up from the midst of the sea something like the appearance of a man. I saw, and behold,] that man flew with the clouds of heaven. When he turned his face to look, everything that he saw trembled.
The words in brackets are added from the Syriac version.
something like the appearance of a man. The Lord Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. Read more »
flew. So says the Syriac version. The Latin version has grew strong.
VERSE 4. Whenever the voice went out of his mouth, all who heard his voice melted, like the wax melts when it feels the fire.
all who heard his voice melted. The melting of enemies is a divine characteristic.
wax melts. So say the Syriac version and other so-called Oriental versions.
VERSE 5. After this I saw, and behold, an innumerable multitude of people was gathered together from the four winds of heaven to make war against the man who came out of the sea.
VERSE 6. I saw, and behold, he carved himself a great mountain, and flew up onto it.
VERSE 7. I tried to see the region or place from which the mountain was carved, and I couldn’t.
Ezra studies his dream.
VERSE 8. After this I saw, and behold, all those who were gathered together to fight against him were very afraid, and yet they dared to fight.
VERSE 9. Behold, as he saw the assault of the multitude that came, he didn’t lift up his hand, or hold a spear or any weapon of war;
VERSE 10. but I saw only how he sent out of his mouth something like a flood of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he shot out a storm of sparks.
a storm of sparks. So say the Syriac and Arabic versions.
VERSE 11. These were all mixed together: the flood of fire, the flaming breath, and the great storm, and fell upon the assault of the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned up every one of them, so that all of a sudden an innumerable multitude was seen to be nothing but dust of ashes and smell of smoke. When I saw this, I was amazed.
I was amazed. Ezra reacts to his dream.
VERSE 12. Afterward, I saw the same man come down from the mountain, and call to himself another multitude which was peaceful.
VERSE 13a. Many people came to him. Some of them were glad. Some were sorry. Some of them were bound, and some others brought some of those as offerings.
Many people came to him. The Old Testament foresees Gentiles coming to faith in the One God of Israel and bringing gifts to Jerusalem. Here are the key Bible verses about this »
THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION
VERSE 13b. Then through great fear I woke up and prayed to the Most High, and said,
VERSE 14. “You have shown your servant these wonders from the beginning, and have counted me worthy that you should receive my prayer.
have counted me worthy. Ezra is taken aback that the Most High God counted him worthy.
VERSE 15. Now show me also the interpretation of this dream.
Ezra asks for the dream to be interpreted.
VERSE 16. For as I conceive in my understanding, woe to those who will be left in those days! Much more woe to those who are not left!
VERSE 17. For those who were not left will be in heaviness,
VERSE 18. understanding the things that are laid up in the latter days, but not attaining to them.
understanding the things that are laid up. All people see the possibility of reward.
but not attaining to them. Many people do not receive a reward. That is a type of punishment.
VERSE 19. But woe to them also who are left, because they will see great perils and much distress, like these dreams declare.
VERSE 20. Yet is it better for one to be in peril and to come into these things, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that will happen in the last days.” He answered me,
better. The Latin version has easier.
these things. So says the Syriac version.
will happen. So says the Syriac version.
VERSE 21. “I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I will also open to you the things about which you mentioned.
The Most High God will interpret Ezra’s dream without an angel’s mediation.
VERSE 22. You have spoken of those who are left behind. This is the interpretation:
VERSE 23. He that will endure the peril in that time will protect those who fall into danger, even those who have works and faith toward the Almighty.
endure. So says the Syriac version.
VERSE 24. Know therefore that those who are left behind are more blessed than those who are dead.
VERSE 25. These are the interpretations of the vision: Whereas you saw a man coming up from the midst of the sea,
VERSE 26. this is he whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages, who by his own self will deliver his creation. He will direct those who are left behind.
by his own self. Or who will himself. Or through whom he will.
those who are left behind. The people who remain after the Messianic woes.
VERSE 27. Whereas you saw that out of his mouth came wind, fire, and storm,
VERSE 28. and whereas he held neither spear, nor any weapon of war, but destroyed the assault of that multitude which came to fight against him, this is the interpretation:
VERSE 29. Behold, the days come when the Most High will begin to deliver those who are on the earth.
the days come. Or the days are coming.
This begins a batch of predictions.
VERSE 30. Astonishment of mind will come upon those who dwell on the earth.
VERSE 31. One will plan to make war against another, city against city, place against place, people against people, and kingdom against kingdom.
VERSE 32. It will be, when these things come to pass, and the signs happen which I showed you before, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man ascending.
Son. Or servant. Or son.
VERSE 33. It will be, when all the nations hear his voice, every man will leave his own land and the battle they have against one another.
VERSE 34. An innumerable multitude will be gathered together, as you saw, desiring to come and to fight against him.
An innumerable multitude. The evil nations gather for their final assault on Zion.
VERSE 35. But he will stand on the top of Mount Zion.
The Messiah himself will be the defender of Zion.
VERSE 36. Zion will come, and will be shown to all men, being prepared and built, like you saw the mountain carved without hands.
VERSE 37. My Son will rebuke the nations which have come for their wickedness, with plagues that are like a storm,
VERSE 38. and will rebuke them to their face with their evil thoughts, and the torments with which they will be tormented, which are like a flame. He will destroy them without labor by the law, which is like fire.
which are like a flame. The rebuke and torments are both fire and divine judgment.
VERSE 39. Whereas you saw that he gathered to himself another multitude that was peaceful,
multitude that was peaceful. The children of the Most High God are peaceful.
VERSE 40. these are the ten tribes which were led away out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmananser the king of the Assyrians led away captive, and he carried them beyond the River, and they were taken into another land.
the ten tribes. Or the nine and a half tribes.
VERSE 41. But they made this plan among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go out into a more distant region, where mankind had never lived,
VERSE 42. that there they might keep their statutes which they had not kept in their own land.
VERSE 43. They entered by the narrow passages of the river Euphrates.
VERSE 44. For the Most High then did signs for them, and stopped the springs of the River until they had passed over.
This might refer to the miracle of the Red Sea.
Or it might refer to the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river.
VERSE 45. For through that country there was a long way to go, namely, of a year and a half. The same region is called Arzareth.
Arzareth. That is, another land.
Deuteronomy 29:28. The LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and thrust them into another land, as it is today.
VERSE 46. Then they lived there until the latter time. Now when they begin to come again,
VERSE 47. the Most High stops the springs of the River again, that they may go through. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered together with peace.
the Most High stops the springs of the River again. This miraculous future rescue will be a reenactment of the ancient miraculous rescues.
VERSE 48. But those who are left behind of your people are those who are found within my holy border.
VERSE 49. It will be therefore when he will destroy the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he will defend the people who remain.
he will defend the people who remain. The Messiah will protect the survivors.
VERSE 50. Then will he show them very many wonders.”
VERSE 51. Then I said, “O sovereign Lord, explain this to me: Why have I seen the man coming up from the midst of the sea?”
VERSE 52. He said to me, as no one can explore or know what is in the depths of the sea, even so no man on earth can see my Son, or those who are with him, except in the time of his day.
his day. So say the so-called Oriental versions. The Latin version omits his.
VERSE 53. This is the interpretation of the dream which you saw, and for this only you are enlightened about this,
VERSE 54. for you have forsaken your own ways, and applied your diligence to mine, and have searched out my law.
Seeking the kingdom of God is to be our number one priority. Yet for many of us, our use of time and money show that it is a low priority. Read more »
VERSE 55. You have ordered your life in wisdom, and have called understanding your mother.
VERSE 56. Therefore I have shown you this, for there is a reward laid up with the Most High. It will be, after another three days I will speak other things to you, and declare to you mighty and wondrous things.”
VERSE 57. Then I went out and passed into the field, giving praise and thanks greatly to the Most High because of his wonders, which he did from time to time,
VERSE 58. and because he governs the time, and such things as happen in their seasons. So I sat there three days.
2 ESDRAS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, How Many People Will Be Saved
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.