Ezra 10:19

KJV

And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and [being] guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their trespass.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they gave {H5414} their hands {H3027} that they would put away {H3318} their wives {H802}; and being guilty {H818}, they offered a ram {H352} of the flock {H6629} for their trespass {H819}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They promised that they would send their wives away; and since they were guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt.

Berean Standard Bible

Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

American Standard Version

And they gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:19 describes the solemn commitment of the Jewish exiles who had intermarried with foreign women, a practice forbidden by God's law. In a profound act of corporate repentance, they publicly pledged to "put away their wives" and, acknowledging their guilt, offered "a ram of the flock for their trespass" as a prescribed atonement. This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment of spiritual purification and covenant renewal for the returned community, highlighting the gravity of their sin and their earnest desire to realign with God's commands through costly obedience and sacrificial atonement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:19 is situated at the climax of a deeply troubling crisis within the post-exilic Jewish community. Following the return from Babylonian captivity, the people had begun to intermarry with the surrounding foreign populations, a direct violation of the Mosaic covenant designed to preserve Israel's distinct identity and spiritual purity. [Ezra's profound distress and prayer of confession](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - Ezra's Prayer and Confession") in chapter 9, where he tears his garments and falls prostrate before God, serves as the immediate catalyst. This public display of grief and repentance by their leader deeply moved the people, leading to a collective conviction of sin. Shecaniah's proposal in [Ezra 10:2-3](/ezra/10-2 "Ezra 10:2-3 - Shecaniah's Proposal") to make a covenant with God to put away the foreign wives sets the stage for the drastic action described in verse 19, demonstrating the community's resolve to rectify their egregious sin and restore their relationship with Yahweh.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period following the Babylonian exile (circa 538 BCE onwards) was a critical time for the Jewish people. Having returned to a devastated land, they faced the daunting task of rebuilding Jerusalem, the temple, and their national identity. The intermarriage issue was not merely a social problem but a profound spiritual threat. God's law, particularly in [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage"), explicitly forbade such unions, fearing that foreign wives would lead the Israelites to idolatry and spiritual apostasy, as had happened numerous times in their history. The act of "giving their hands" was a common ancient Near Eastern custom, signifying a binding pledge, a solemn oath, or a formal agreement, often accompanied by a handshake or a public declaration. This cultural practice underscored the gravity and public nature of the commitment made by those involved, ensuring accountability within the community.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ezra and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **covenant fidelity** and the serious consequences of its violation. The intermarriages represented a direct breach of God's covenant with Israel, jeopardizing their unique status as God's chosen people. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **corporate repentance** and the necessity of radical obedience. The people's willingness to undertake such a painful and disruptive act demonstrates a deep conviction of sin and a commitment to genuine repentance, not merely sorrow but a decisive turning away from sin and a realignment with God's will. Finally, the offering of a ram for trespass speaks to the theme of **atonement** and God's provision for forgiveness under the Mosaic Law, emphasizing that sin requires a sacrifice for propitiation, a principle seen throughout the Old Testament sacrificial system (e.g., [Leviticus 5](/leviticus/5 "Leviticus 5 - The Trespass Offering")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **gave their hands (Hebrew, _natan yad_):** This phrase signifies a solemn, binding pledge or oath. It was a public and tangible sign of commitment in the ancient Near East, akin to a formal vow or a handshake in modern times. It indicated that those who "gave their hands" were making an unbreakable promise to fulfill the terms of the agreement, in this case, to put away their foreign wives.
* **guilty (Hebrew, _'asham_):** The term here refers to the state of being liable for a trespass or an offense against God or others. It implies not just a feeling of remorse but a legal and spiritual culpability that demands atonement. Their "guilt" was a direct result of violating God's explicit command regarding intermarriage, making them subject to the requirements of the trespass offering.
* **trespass (Hebrew, _'asham_):** This word, often translated as "guilt offering" or "trespass offering," refers to a specific type of sacrifice prescribed in the Mosaic Law. It was offered for sins that involved a violation of God's holy things or the rights of others, often requiring restitution or compensation in addition to the sacrifice itself. In this context, the "trespass" was the egregious sin of intermarriage, a direct violation of God's covenant with Israel, and the ram was the specified animal for such an offering, as detailed in [Leviticus 5:15-16](/leviticus/5-15 "Leviticus 5:15-16 - The Trespass Offering").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they gave their hands":** This clause emphasizes the solemnity and public nature of the commitment. It was not a private decision but a communal, binding pledge made before God and the community, signifying their earnest resolve to obey.
* **"that they would put away their wives":** This indicates the painful and drastic action required of them. "Putting away" (Hebrew, _yatsa_ meaning "to send out" or "to divorce") their foreign wives, and by strong implication, their children from these unions (as seen in subsequent verses), was a severe measure but deemed necessary for the spiritual purity and preservation of the covenant community.
* **"and [being] guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their trespass":** This part highlights the dual nature of their repentance: active obedience (putting away wives) combined with ritual atonement. Recognizing their guilt before God, they followed the Mosaic Law's provision for a trespass offering. The ram, a specific animal for this offering, symbolized their acknowledgment of sin and their seeking of God's forgiveness and propitiation for their covenant violation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Symbolism** is prominent: the "hands" symbolize a binding agreement and public commitment, while the "ram of the flock" symbolizes the prescribed means of atonement for sin under the Mosaic Law. The act of "giving their hands" can also be seen as a form of **Metonymy**, where the physical action (giving hands) stands for the abstract concept of making a solemn pledge. Furthermore, the entire act of offering a sacrifice for trespass serves as **Foreshadowing**, pointing forward to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Christ, who would become the true Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world. The stark contrast between their past disobedience and their current costly obedience highlights the **Dramatic Irony** of their situation, where the very actions meant to build their community (marriage) had become its greatest spiritual threat.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:19 stands as a powerful testament to the seriousness of sin, the necessity of genuine repentance, and God's gracious provision for atonement. The people's willingness to undertake such a painful and disruptive act underscores the absolute priority of covenant fidelity and spiritual purity in the eyes of God. Their actions demonstrate that true repentance is not merely sorrow for consequences but a decisive turning away from sin, involving concrete steps to make amends and realign one's life with God's revealed will. This costly obedience, coupled with the prescribed sacrifice, illustrates the biblical principle that sin demands a payment and that God, in His mercy, provided a way for His people to be reconciled to Him, even when their transgressions were severe. It reminds us that God's holiness requires a response to sin, and His justice is always tempered by His provision for grace.

* [Leviticus 5:15-16](/leviticus/5-15 "Leviticus 5:15-16 - The Trespass Offering")
* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Command Against Intermarriage")
* [2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 10:19 presents a challenging yet deeply instructive narrative for believers today. It compels us to examine the areas in our own lives where we might be compromising God's clear commands, even if those compromises feel comfortable or socially acceptable. The people's radical act of putting away their wives, though culturally jarring to modern sensibilities, serves as a stark reminder that genuine repentance often involves significant personal sacrifice and a willingness to sever ties with anything that hinders our spiritual purity and fidelity to God. It calls us to prioritize God's will above all else, understanding that true alignment with Him may require painful choices. Furthermore, the offering of the ram reminds us of the profound truth that our sins require atonement, and while we no longer offer animal sacrifices, this points us to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Our response to His sacrifice should be a life of costly, joyful obedience, continually turning away from sin and embracing His transforming grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign wives" or compromising relationships/practices might I need to "put away" in my own life to align more fully with God's will?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of repentance? Is my repentance merely sorrow, or does it involve concrete, costly actions to turn from sin?**
* **In what ways do I acknowledge my guilt before God, and how do I lean into Christ's ultimate atonement for my trespasses?**
* **What is the cost of obedience in my life, and am I willing to pay it for the sake of spiritual purity and covenant fidelity?**

### FAQ
**Was it fair or just for the men to put away their wives, especially if children were involved?**

Answer: This is one of the most challenging aspects of the Ezra narrative for modern readers. From a contemporary perspective, the command to "put away their wives" (and implicitly, their children) seems harsh and unjust, particularly to the innocent parties involved. However, to understand this action, it's crucial to view it through the lens of the specific covenant context of ancient Israel. The intermarriages were not merely social transgressions but direct violations of God's explicit commands (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")). These commands were given to preserve Israel's spiritual identity, prevent idolatry, and maintain their distinctiveness as God's holy nation. The fear was that these unions would lead the entire community back into the idolatry and spiritual compromise that had previously led to their exile. The drastic measure was seen as a necessary, albeit painful, act of corporate repentance and purification to restore the nation's covenant relationship with God and ensure its future spiritual survival. It was a severe consequence of severe disobedience, highlighting the gravity of sin against a holy God and the priority of the covenant over individual relationships that threatened the entire community's spiritual integrity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 10:19, with its depiction of costly repentance and a prescribed trespass offering, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Jesus Christ. The ram offered for "trespass" under the Old Covenant pointed to the future, perfect sacrifice that would truly atone for the sins of humanity. Just as the Israelites were "guilty" and required a specific offering, all humanity stands guilty before a holy God, unable to atone for their own "trespasses." The Law, with its demanding requirements and sacrifices, revealed the depth of human sin and the impossibility of perfect obedience, thereby serving as a "guardian until Christ came" ([Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "Galatians 3:24 - The Law as a Guardian")). Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the perfect and final "trespass offering" for all who believe ([Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation")). His sacrifice on the cross was a once-for-all act of propitiation, satisfying God's righteous demands and providing complete forgiveness and reconciliation, far surpassing the temporary efficacy of animal sacrifices ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). Through Christ, we are not merely given a way to atone for specific trespasses, but we are brought into a [new covenant](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The New Covenant") of grace, where our hearts are transformed, enabling true and lasting obedience, not out of fear, but out of love for the One who gave Himself for us.

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.

Cross-References

Leviticus 6:6

And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:

2 Kings 10:15

¶ And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab [coming] to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart [is] with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give [me] thine hand. And he gave [him] his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

2 Chronicles 30:8

Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

Galatians 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

1 Chronicles 29:24

And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

Lamentations 5:6

We have given the hand [to] the Egyptians, [and to] the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

Leviticus 6:4

Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,