Ezra 10:3

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now therefore let us make {H3772} a covenant {H1285} with our God {H430} to put away {H3318} all the wives {H802}, and such as are born {H3205} of them, according to the counsel {H6098} of my lord {H136}, and of those that tremble {H2730} at the commandment {H4687} of our God {H430}; and let it be done {H6213} according to the law {H8451}.

Complete Jewish Bible

We should make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives, along with their children, in obedience to the advice of Adonai and of those who tremble at the mitzvah of our God; let us act in accordance with the Torah.

Berean Standard Bible

So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:3 captures a pivotal moment in post-exilic Israel's journey of repentance, as Shechaniah proposes a radical solution to the widespread sin of intermarriage with foreign nations. Following Ezra's profound lament, this verse outlines a solemn covenant to rectify the transgression by divorcing foreign wives and their children, aligning the community with divine law and the counsel of godly leaders. This painful yet necessary act underscores a deep commitment to spiritual purity and covenant renewal, aiming to restore Israel's distinct identity before God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:3 emerges directly from the profound spiritual crisis detailed in [Ezra 9](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - Ezra's Prayer of Confession"). Ezra's agonizing prayer of confession, prompted by the discovery of widespread intermarriage, had deeply moved the people. His public lament, tearing his garment and pulling out his hair, served as a powerful catalyst, leading to a large assembly gathering before the house of God, weeping bitterly. It is in this atmosphere of collective conviction and sorrow that Shechaniah, despite his own family's implication in the sin (as revealed later in [Ezra 10:20-44](/ezra/10-20 "Ezra 10:20-44 - List of Those Who Had Foreign Wives")), steps forward. His proposal is not a superficial apology but a decisive, painful, and binding commitment to address the root cause of their spiritual defilement, transitioning from lament to concrete action.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is post-exilic Jerusalem, a fragile community recently returned from seventy years of Babylonian captivity. Their identity as God's chosen people was constantly under threat, both from external pressures and internal compromise. The Law of Moses explicitly forbade intermarriage with pagan nations (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage")), primarily to prevent spiritual apostasy and the adoption of idolatrous practices. Such marriages often led to the dilution of Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh and threatened the purity of their worship. The act of "putting away" wives and children, while socially devastating and emotionally wrenching, was perceived as a necessary, albeit extreme, measure to preserve the theological integrity and future existence of the covenant community, ensuring their distinct separation from the surrounding idolatrous cultures.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several critical themes prevalent in Ezra's narrative. Foremost is **Radical Repentance and Covenant Renewal**, signifying a profound turning away from sin and a re-establishment of loyalty to God's covenant, even at great personal cost. It highlights **Obedience to God's Law**, emphasizing that true repentance involves aligning one's life with divine commands, specifically the prohibition against intermarriage. The painful decision to "put away all the wives, and such as are born of them" underscores the theme of **Holiness and Separation**, vital for Israel's identity and spiritual survival. Furthermore, the reference to the "counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God" emphasizes the crucial role of **Godly Leadership and Reverence for God's Word** in guiding the community towards righteousness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Covenant (Hebrew, _bĕrît'_):** This term signifies a solemn, binding agreement, often with accompanying oaths and rituals, establishing a relationship or obligation. In this context, it is a human-initiated pledge, made in response to God's pre-existing covenant and law, to rectify a grave transgression. It implies a renewed commitment to fidelity and obedience to Yahweh, seeking to restore a broken relationship.
* **Put away (Hebrew, _shalach'_):** The verb means "to send away," "to dismiss," or "to divorce." Here, it refers to the drastic, painful act of dissolving marriages that violated God's law. It signifies a complete separation from the source of spiritual defilement, an act of radical surgery to excise the sin from the community's midst, demonstrating the severity of the transgression and the depth of their repentance.
* **Tremble (Hebrew, _ḥārēd'_):** This word conveys a deep, reverential awe or fear, often accompanied by trembling, in the presence of something sacred or powerful. When applied to God's commandment, it denotes a profound respect for divine authority and a sensitive, obedient heart that takes God's word with utmost seriousness, leading to a compelling desire to obey.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God":** This phrase marks a decisive turning point, moving from lament and confession to concrete action. It signifies a collective, solemn commitment to renew their relationship with God, acknowledging their past failures and pledging future obedience. The initiative comes from Shechaniah, representing the people's earnest desire for restoration.
* **"to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them":** This is the painful and radical core of the proposed covenant. It directly addresses the specific sin of intermarriage. The inclusion of "such as are born of them" highlights the comprehensive nature of the separation, indicating the severity of the spiritual threat posed by these unions and the commitment to eradicate all aspects of the transgression, despite the immense human cost.
* **"according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God":** This clause identifies the sources of authority and spiritual guidance for this difficult decision. "My lord" most likely refers to Ezra, whose leadership and deep reverence for the Law had inspired the people's repentance. "Those that tremble at the commandment of our God" refers to the spiritually sensitive and obedient members of the community, whose reverence for God's word makes them reliable moral compasses. This underscores the importance of godly counsel in times of crisis.
* **"and let it be done according to the law":** This final phrase reinforces the foundational principle guiding their actions: adherence to divine revelation. It emphasizes that the entire process, though painful, was not arbitrary but was undertaken in strict accordance with the Mosaic Law, which prohibited such intermarriages and mandated holiness for the covenant community. It grounds their radical action in the unchanging standard of God's revealed will.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its solemnity and decisive nature. **Direct Address** ("let us make a covenant") immediately draws the audience into the proposed action, fostering a sense of collective responsibility. The phrase "tremble at the commandment of our God" is an example of **Metonymy**, where the physical act of trembling represents the profound reverence and obedient fear of God's word. The entire proposal functions as a form of **Exhortation**, a strong urging to action born out of spiritual conviction. The structure of the verse, moving from a general call to covenant to specific, painful actions, and then to the guiding principles, creates a sense of **Logical Progression** that undergirds the severity and necessity of the proposed solution.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:3 stands as a stark reminder of the gravity of spiritual compromise and the radical demands of covenant faithfulness. Theologically, it underscores God's unwavering expectation of holiness from His people, a theme deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Intermarriage, in this context, was not merely a social issue but a direct assault on Israel's unique identity as a holy nation, threatening to dilute their faith and lead them into idolatry. The painful act of putting away wives and children, while difficult to reconcile with modern sensibilities, was seen as a necessary surgical procedure to preserve the spiritual life and future of the entire community, prioritizing the purity of the covenant over individual preferences or social norms. It highlights the tension between God's grace and the human responsibility to respond with costly obedience when confronted with sin.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Prohibition of Intermarriage with Foreign Nations")
* [Nehemiah 13:23-27](/nehemiah/13-23 "Nehemiah's Enforcement of Separation")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14-18](/2_corinthians/6-14 "Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 10:3, though set in a specific historical and cultural context, offers enduring principles for believers today. While the literal command to "put away wives" is not applicable in the New Covenant era, the underlying call to radical obedience and separation from spiritual compromise remains profoundly relevant. We are continually challenged to examine our lives for "foreign wives"—any relationships, commitments, or practices that draw us away from our singular devotion to God and His revealed will. True repentance often involves difficult, costly decisions that prioritize God's standards above personal comfort, societal acceptance, or even deeply ingrained habits. This verse reminds us that genuine reverence for God's Word ("trembling at the commandment of our God") compels us to act decisively against anything that defiles our walk with Him, demonstrating that holiness is not merely a theological concept but a lived reality that may require painful sacrifice for the sake of spiritual purity and fidelity to our covenant with Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign wives" or spiritual compromises might God be calling me to "put away" in my life today?**
* **How does "trembling at the commandment of our God" manifest in my practical obedience and decision-making?**
* **What difficult or costly decisions might I need to make to prioritize God's holiness and His will above my own desires or societal pressures?**

### FAQ
**Was this act of putting away wives and children just?**

Answer: This is one of the most challenging passages in the Old Testament, raising significant ethical questions. From the perspective of the Mosaic covenant, the intermarriages themselves were a direct violation of God's explicit command (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")), given to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and prevent idolatry. The community viewed this act as a necessary, though agonizing, measure to restore their covenant relationship with God and prevent further spiritual decay. While the human cost was immense and heart-wrenching, the priority was the survival and holiness of the entire covenant community, which was God's chosen instrument for salvation. It was seen as an act of corporate repentance and radical obedience to a divine imperative, rather than an arbitrary act of cruelty. The justice, in this context, was understood through the lens of covenant fidelity and the preservation of God's unique people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 10:3, with its emphasis on covenant renewal, radical obedience, and the painful separation from sin for the sake of holiness, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. While the Old Covenant demanded a physical separation from foreign nations to maintain purity, Christ establishes a new covenant, not based on ethnic lineage or external rituals, but on an internal transformation of the heart through faith in Him ([Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")). Jesus himself perfectly fulfilled the Law and its demands for holiness, becoming the ultimate sacrifice that "put away" sin once for all, not by divorcing individuals, but by His atoning death on the cross ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Sacrifice to Put Away Sin")). Through Him, believers are called to a spiritual separation from the "world" and its ungodly influences ([2 Corinthians 6:17-18](/2_corinthians/6-17 "2 Corinthians 6:17-18 - Come Out From Among Them")), becoming a purified bride for Christ ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). The "trembling at the commandment of our God" in Ezra finds its echo in the New Testament call to fear God and obey His commands, empowered by the Holy Spirit who enables us to live rightlessly and walk in newness of life, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law not by our own strength, but by His indwelling presence ([Romans 8:4](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - Living According to the Spirit")). Thus, the radical obedience and pursuit of holiness seen in Ezra 10:3 are ultimately realized in the believer's union with Christ and the transformative power of the New Covenant.

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

Deuteronomy 7:2

And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

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.

Ezra 9:4

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 7:12

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

1 Corinthians 7:13

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

Joshua 23:12

Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, [even] these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

Joshua 23:13

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.