What does it mean to bring nothing in our hands to God?

The phrase 'nothing in my hands I bring' reflects a deep understanding of our inability to earn God's favor through our actions. In Ezra 9:5, Ezra demonstrates this by coming before God in humility, acknowledging that he has no righteousness of his own to present. This concept is supported by Scripture such as Ephesians 2:8-9, which teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. When we approach God empty-handed, we acknowledge that our hope lies solely in the finished work of Christ, trusting in His righteousness rather than our own.