Ezra 10:11

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.

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}.

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."

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.”

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.

Ezra 10:11 captures a pivotal moment in the post-exilic restoration of Israel, calling for a radical act of repentance and obedience. This verse records the assembly's response to Ezra's deep distress over the widespread sin of intermarriage with foreign women, which threatened the spiritual purity and covenant identity of the returned exiles.

Context

Following their return from Babylonian captivity, the Jewish community in Judah faced the daunting task of rebuilding their nation and their spiritual life. Under the leadership of Ezra, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, a severe issue came to light: many had taken "strange wives" from the surrounding peoples, violating God's explicit commands against such unions (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). This practice had historically led Israel into idolatry and spiritual compromise. Ezra's profound grief and prayer (as seen in Ezra 9) spurred the people to action, leading to this declaration of collective commitment to God's will.

Key Themes

  • Confession and Repentance: The verse begins with a call to "make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers." This is not merely an admission of guilt but a heartfelt acknowledgement of sin, turning away from disobedience. It emphasizes the importance of transparency before God and a willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions.
  • Obedience to God's Pleasure: To "do his pleasure" signifies a deliberate choice to align one's life with God's commands and desires. For the Israelites, this meant upholding the Mosaic Law, which protected their distinct identity as God's chosen people (Exodus 19:6).
  • Spiritual Separation and Purity: The core command to "separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives" was crucial for maintaining the spiritual integrity of the community. This separation was not about ethnic superiority but about preventing the assimilation of pagan practices and idolatry that accompanied these unions, ensuring the people remained devoted exclusively to the LORD.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "confession" here, often related to yada (to know, confess), implies a recognition of truth and an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The phrase "strange wives" (Hebrew: nashim nokhriyot) specifically highlights their foreign origin and their potential to introduce foreign gods and customs, threatening the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This term underscores the spiritual danger, not merely a social or ethnic distinction.

Practical Application

Ezra 10:11 offers timeless principles for believers today:

  • Acknowledge and Confess Sin: Just as the Israelites were called to confess, believers must regularly examine their hearts and confess sins to God, trusting in His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
  • Seek God's Will and Obey: Our lives should be characterized by a desire to "do His pleasure," actively seeking and following God's revealed will in Scripture.
  • Maintain Spiritual Purity: While not advocating physical isolation, Christians are called to be in the world but not of the world. This means separating from influences, attitudes, and relationships that compromise faith, lead to spiritual impurity, or draw us away from devotion to Christ. This often involves difficult choices for the sake of spiritual health and integrity.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 1:16

    ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

  • Isaiah 1:18

    Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

  • Joshua 7:19

    And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide [it] not from me.

  • Romans 12:2

    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  • Ezra 10:3

    Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

  • Deuteronomy 7:3

    Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

  • Deuteronomy 7:4

    For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

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