Ezra 10:14

KJV

Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let now our rulers {H8269} of all the congregation {H6951} stand {H5975}, and let all them which have taken {H3427} strange {H5237} wives {H802} in our cities {H5892} come {H935} at appointed {H2163} times {H6256}, and with them the elders {H2205} of every city {H5892}, and the judges {H8199} thereof, until the fierce {H2740} wrath {H639} of our God {H430} for this matter {H1697} be turned {H7725} from us.

Complete Jewish Bible

Let our leaders represent the whole community; and let all those in our cities who have married foreign women appear at prearranged times, accompanied by the elders and judges of each city; until our God's fierce anger over this has been turned away from us."

Berean Standard Bible

Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”

American Standard Version

Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all them that are in our cities that have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be despatched.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:14 outlines the practical, systematic process proposed by the gathered assembly to address the widespread sin of intermarriage with foreign women among the returned exiles. This verse details the establishment of a formal judicial procedure involving leaders, elders, and judges from every city, designed to hear individual cases at appointed times. The ultimate goal of this rigorous and communal effort was to turn away the "fierce wrath" of God, which the people recognized had been justly incurred by their covenant disobedience, thereby restoring their relationship with Him and securing the well-being of the nascent community in Judah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:14 is situated at a pivotal moment in the book of Ezra, specifically within the larger narrative of national repentance and reform in [Ezra chapter 10](/ezra/10 "Ezra 10 - The Resolution to Intermarriage"). Following Ezra's profound prayer of confession and lament in [Ezra chapter 9](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - Ezra's Prayer of Confession"), the people, led by Shecaniah, acknowledge their sin of intermarriage and propose a radical solution. Verse 14 details the practical, procedural steps to implement this resolution, shifting from the emotional outpouring of repentance to concrete, organized action. It sets the stage for the subsequent verses (Ezra 10:15-17), which describe the appointment of specific individuals to oversee this complex and sensitive judicial process, demonstrating the community's commitment to systematically address the issue.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Ezra 10 occur in the post-exilic period, roughly 458 BC, after the second wave of Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon under Ezra's leadership. The community was fragile, attempting to re-establish its identity and covenant relationship with Yahweh in the land of Judah. A critical aspect of their covenant identity, repeatedly emphasized in the Torah (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")), was the prohibition against intermarriage with surrounding pagan peoples. This command was not merely about ethnic purity but spiritual preservation, designed to prevent Israel from being led into idolatry and syncretism, which had been a primary cause of their Babylonian exile. The "strange wives" (Hebrew: _nashim nokhriyot_) were non-Israelite women who had not converted to the worship of the God of Israel, thus posing a direct threat to the spiritual integrity of the community and inviting divine judgment, as seen in previous instances of Israel's unfaithfulness (e.g., [Numbers 25:1-9](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25 - The Baal of Peor Incident")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Ezra and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **corporate repentance and accountability**. The sin of intermarriage was widespread, and the proposed solution involved the entire "congregation," emphasizing that sin affects the whole community and requires a collective, structured response. Secondly, the phrase "fierce wrath of our God" highlights the theme of **divine justice and the consequences of disobedience**. The people understood that their sin had incurred God's righteous anger, and that active, demonstrable repentance was necessary to avert further judgment and restore divine favor. Finally, the entire episode reinforces the theme of **covenant fidelity and the preservation of spiritual identity**. The drastic measures taken were aimed at maintaining Israel's distinctiveness as God's holy people, separated from pagan influences, a vital step in rebuilding their spiritual foundation after the devastation of the exile, as seen in the warnings of [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warnings Against Foreign Alliances").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strange wives (Hebrew, _nashim nokhriyot'_):** This phrase refers to "foreign women" or "alien women." The emphasis is not merely on their ethnic origin but, more significantly, on their non-Israelite religious and cultural identity. In the context of the Mosaic Covenant, marrying women from surrounding nations who did not worship Yahweh was strictly forbidden because it inevitably led to idolatry and spiritual compromise, threatening the unique, holy identity of Israel as God's chosen people.
* **Congregation (Hebrew, _qahal'_):** This term denotes the "assembly" or "community" of Israel. It emphasizes the corporate nature of the sin and the corporate responsibility for its resolution. The decision and the subsequent actions were not merely individual but involved the entire body of returned exiles, highlighting the communal impact of sin and the need for communal repentance and action.
* **Fierce wrath (Hebrew, _charon aph'_):** Literally meaning "burning of nose/anger," this idiom describes intense, vehement anger, often attributed to God in response to severe sin and disobedience. In this context, it signifies God's righteous indignation against Israel's breach of covenant, particularly the intermarriage that threatened their spiritual purity. The people understood that this divine wrath, if unaddressed, could bring further judgment upon them, mirroring past divine judgments for similar transgressions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand":** This clause initiates the proposed solution, calling for the authorized leaders—those with administrative and judicial authority over the entire assembly—to take their positions. This signifies the formal, public, and official nature of the process, ensuring that the resolution would be carried out with proper governance and accountability.
* **"and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times":** This specifies the individuals who are to be held accountable: those Jewish men who had violated the covenant by marrying foreign women. The phrase "at appointed times" indicates an orderly, scheduled process, preventing chaos and ensuring that each case could be heard systematically and fairly, rather than in a single, rushed event.
* **"and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof":** This further details the composition of the judicial body. The inclusion of "elders of every city" and "judges thereof" underscores the local and decentralized nature of the implementation, ensuring that the process would be carried out by respected, knowledgeable figures within each community, familiar with the specific circumstances and individuals involved. This also implies a thorough and comprehensive approach across all settlements.
* **"until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us":** This final clause states the ultimate purpose and motivation behind the entire, drastic undertaking. The people recognized that their sin had provoked God's intense anger, and their actions were a desperate attempt to appease His wrath, demonstrate genuine repentance, and restore divine favor. It highlights their understanding of the serious consequences of covenant disobedience and their desire for reconciliation and the removal of divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Legal Language** and **Procedural Language** are prominent, reflecting the establishment of a formal judicial process. Phrases like "rulers...stand," "come at appointed times," and the mention of "elders" and "judges" evoke the solemnity and structure of a court or official inquiry. There is an element of **Synecdoche** where "rulers of all the congregation" stands for the entire governing body, representing the collective will and authority of the people. The phrase "fierce wrath of our God" is a powerful example of **Metonymy**, where "wrath" (an emotion) stands for the divine judgment and consequences that flow from it. The verse also demonstrates **Emphasis** through the detailed enumeration of the various authority figures (rulers, elders, judges), underscoring the communal and comprehensive nature of the proposed solution and the gravity of the sin being addressed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:14 powerfully articulates the profound biblical truth that sin, especially corporate sin, incurs the righteous "fierce wrath" of God, and that true repentance necessitates concrete, often costly, action to turn away from disobedience and back to covenant fidelity. This passage underscores God's holiness and His demand for His people to be set apart, demonstrating that spiritual compromise has severe consequences for both individuals and the community. The willingness of the people to undergo such a public and painful process highlights their desperate desire for reconciliation with God and the restoration of His blessing, recognizing that their very existence as a covenant people depended on their obedience. This commitment to holiness, even at great personal cost, serves as a powerful example of what it means to take God's commands seriously and to prioritize His honor above all else.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage and its Consequences")
* [Nehemiah 13:23-27](/nehemiah/13-23 "Nehemiah 13:23-27 - Nehemiah's Confrontation with Intermarriage")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 10:14 serves as a stark reminder that sin, particularly that which compromises our spiritual identity and devotion to God, has communal ramifications and can provoke divine displeasure. While the specific cultural context of intermarriage and the legalistic solution of divorce are not directly transferable to the New Covenant era, the underlying principles remain profoundly relevant. This passage challenges us to consider the seriousness with which we treat sin in our own lives and within our communities. It calls for a corporate and individual commitment to holiness, urging us to identify and decisively address practices or relationships that threaten our spiritual purity and devotion to Christ. Just as the Israelites sought to turn away God's wrath through concrete action, believers today are called to active repentance, demonstrating a willingness to make difficult choices for the sake of God's honor and the spiritual well-being of the church. This may involve severing ties with ungodly influences, pursuing reconciliation, or submitting to spiritual authority for guidance and accountability, always with the aim of living lives that honor God and reflect His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "fierce wrath" (divine displeasure or natural consequences) might our communities or individual lives be experiencing today due to unaddressed sin or spiritual compromise?**
* **How does the communal approach to repentance in Ezra 10:14 challenge our often individualistic understanding of sin and accountability?**
* **What "appointed times" or structured processes do we have in place, individually or corporately, to address sin decisively and systematically?**
* **In what ways might we be "unequally yoked" (spiritually or otherwise) in relationships or commitments that compromise our devotion to God, and what concrete steps might be required to address this?**

### FAQ

**Was the divorce of foreign wives a just or compassionate solution?**

Answer: From a purely human perspective, the command to divorce foreign wives, especially those with children, appears harsh and lacking in compassion. However, within the specific theological and historical context of post-exilic Israel, it was understood as a necessary, albeit painful, measure to preserve the very spiritual identity and existence of the covenant community. The prohibition against intermarriage (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")) was not arbitrary; it was designed to prevent the nation from falling back into idolatry, which had led to their exile. The "fierce wrath" of God was a real and present danger, and the people believed that only radical obedience could avert further divine judgment. While difficult, this act was seen as an act of corporate repentance and a desperate attempt to restore their covenant relationship with God and ensure the future of the faithful remnant. It was a legal and spiritual necessity for the survival of the nation's unique identity as God's chosen people, not a general principle for all times and cultures.

**Why was intermarriage such a severe sin in Ezra's time?**

Answer: Intermarriage with non-Israelites was a severe sin primarily because it represented a direct violation of God's covenant commands and posed an existential threat to Israel's spiritual purity and distinctiveness. The Mosaic Law explicitly forbade such unions (e.g., [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warnings Against Foreign Alliances")), not out of racial prejudice, but because foreign spouses typically brought their pagan gods and practices into Israelite homes, leading to syncretism and idolatry. This had been a recurring problem throughout Israel's history and a major cause of their exile. In the fragile post-exilic community, preserving their unique identity as the people of Yahweh was paramount. Intermarriage threatened to dilute their faith, corrupt their worship, and lead them away from the God who had delivered them, thereby incurring His "fierce wrath" and jeopardizing their future in the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 10:14, with its focus on averting God's "fierce wrath" through a rigorous process of separation and repentance, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "fierce wrath" that Israel feared and sought to appease through their painful actions was the righteous judgment of God against sin—a wrath that was fully and finally absorbed by Christ on the cross. The New Testament declares that through faith in Jesus, we are "justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him" ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Saved from Wrath Through Christ")). The elaborate, costly process of separating from "strange wives" in Ezra foreshadows the radical separation from sin and the world that Christ accomplishes in His followers, not through legalistic divorce, but through spiritual transformation. Believers are called to be a "new creation" ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")), set apart unto God, and united to Christ as His pure bride ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church")). The pursuit of holiness and the turning away from spiritual compromise, which was a burdensome legal requirement in Ezra, becomes a joyful response of love and obedience to the One who has already borne the full weight of God's wrath, enabling us to live in true reconciliation and purity before Him, not by our own works, but by His perfect sacrifice ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Sacrifice")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.