And I took it and drank: Ezra took the cup of fiery-colored liquid and drank it.

And when I had drunk it, my heart poured forth understanding, and wisdom increased in my breast, for my spirit retained its memory: The three results of the drink described here are metaphorical ways of saying that all the knowledge and wisdom of the Scriptures, and even its very words came to Ezra (compare verse 25). The word heart is to be understood here in the Hebrew sense of “mind,” so my heart poured forth understanding may be rendered “I could feel my mind expanding with knowledge” or “I could feel knowledge flooding into my mind.” In this context the word breast also refers to the mind. Wisdom increased in my breast may be translated “I became very wise.” My spirit retained its memory may be expressed as “I could remember everything perfectly” or “my memory became perfect.”

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• I took it and drank it. When I did, I could feel my mind expanding with knowledge, I could feel myself becoming wiser, and my memory became perfect.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.