Ezra 10:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Now, therefore, make confession to ADONAI, the God of your ancestors; and do what will please him by separating yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women."

Berean Standard Bible:

Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”

American Standard Version:

Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now therefore make^{H5414} confession^{H8426} unto the LORD^{H3068} God^{H430} of your fathers^{H1}, and do^{H6213} his pleasure^{H7522}: and separate^{H914} yourselves from the people^{H5971} of the land^{H776}, and from the strange^{H5237} wives^{H802}.

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Commentary for Ezra 10:11

Ezra 10:11 is a verse set within the historical context of the Jewish people's return from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. Under the leadership of Ezra, a scribe and priest, the Israelites are confronted with the issue of intermarriage with non-Jewish people, which was seen as a violation of the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The verse is part of a larger narrative where Ezra is overwhelmed with sorrow upon learning that many of the returned exiles, including leaders and priests, have taken foreign wives.

In this verse, Ezra exhorts the Israelites to take specific actions to rectify their spiritual infidelity. The themes present include repentance, religious purity, and the importance of obeying God's commands. Ezra calls for a public confession to the "LORD God of your fathers," emphasizing the need for a heartfelt acknowledgment of their sin and a commitment to turn back to God. The phrase "do his pleasure" underscores the imperative to align one's actions with God's will.

Furthermore, the call to "separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives" reflects the necessity of maintaining a distinct religious and ethnic identity, which was crucial for the preservation of the Jewish faith and culture amidst the influences of the surrounding pagan societies. The command to end these marriages, which might seem harsh to modern sensibilities, was rooted in the belief that such unions could lead to idolatry and the erosion of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

This verse captures a pivotal moment in the post-exilic community as they grappled with issues of identity, fidelity, and covenant faithfulness. Ezra's leadership in this situation illustrates the tension between cultural integration and religious purity that has been a recurring theme throughout Jewish history.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
2. Strong's Number: H8426
   There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוֹדָה
   Transliteration: tôwdâh
   Pronunciation: to-daw'
   Description: from יָדָה; properly, an extension of the hand, i.e. (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adoration; specifically, a choir of worshippers; confession, (sacrifice of) praise, thanks(-giving, offering).
   
3. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7522
   There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָצוֹן
   Transliteration: râtsôwn
   Pronunciation: raw-tsone'
   Description: or רָצֹן; from רָצָה; delight (especially as shown); (be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will, as...(what) would.
   
8. Strong's Number: H914
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּדַל
   Transliteration: bâdal
   Pronunciation: baw-dal'
   Description: a primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.); (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), [idiom] utterly.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
10. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5237
    There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נׇכְרִי
    Transliteration: nokrîy
    Pronunciation: nok-ree'
    Description: from נֶכֶר (second form); strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful); alien, foreigner, outlandish, strange(-r, woman).
    
12. Strong's Number: H802
    There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִשָּׁה
    Transliteration: ʼishshâh
    Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
    Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.