Tearing your garment was a common way of expressing distress or grief (Genesis 37:29, Genesis 37:34; Esther 4:1; Job 1:20; Isaiah 36:22; Jeremiah 41:5; Matthew 26:65). But Ezra's pulling out his own hair is unique. In the Bible, normally the head would be shaved to express grief (Job 1:20; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10) or the offender's hair will be torn out (for example, Nehemiah 13:25).
Ezra’s actions are thus meant to show his utter devastation following the news he has heard about Israel’s unfaithfulness.
3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.