Ezra 10:14

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.

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.

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."

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.”

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

Commentary on Ezra 10:14 (KJV)

Ezra 10:14 outlines the practical steps proposed by the people of Israel to address the widespread sin of intermarriage with foreign women after their return from Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a crucial moment of national repentance and reform, demonstrating a commitment to restore their covenant relationship with God.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of Ezra chronicles the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity in Babylon, a period prophesied by Jeremiah. Upon their return, their primary task was to rebuild the temple and re-establish their community under God's law. However, a significant spiritual compromise emerged: many Jewish men had taken "strange wives," referring to non-Israelite women who had not converted to the worship of the God of Israel. This practice was a direct violation of God's commands (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:3-4), which aimed to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and prevent them from being led into idolatry. Ezra, a priest and scribe, was deeply distressed by this sin, as detailed in Ezra chapter 9, leading to this collective response from the people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Corporate Repentance and Accountability: The verse highlights the community's acknowledgment of their collective sin and their desire for a structured, public process of repentance. The involvement of "rulers of all the congregation," "elders of every city," and "judges" underscores the idea of corporate responsibility and orderly justice.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The phrase "fierce wrath of our God" emphasizes the gravity of their sin. This was not a minor transgression but one that invoked God's intense displeasure, threatening the well-being and future of the entire nation. The people understood that divine judgment needed to be averted.
  • Preservation of Spiritual Identity: The issue of "strange wives" was fundamentally about maintaining the distinct identity and spiritual purity of God's covenant people. Intermarriage with those who did not worship Yahweh threatened to dilute their faith and lead them back into the pagan practices from which they had just been delivered. This echoed warnings found throughout the Pentateuch, such as in Exodus 34:16.

Linguistic Insights

The term "strange wives" (Hebrew: nashim nokhriyot) literally means "foreign women." It emphasizes their non-Israelite origin and, more importantly, their different religious and cultural backgrounds, which posed a significant threat to the spiritual integrity of the Israelite community. The "fierce wrath" (Hebrew: charon aph) denotes a strong, burning anger, often used to describe God's righteous indignation against sin and disobedience (e.g., Numbers 25:3-4).

Practical Application

Ezra 10:14 offers valuable lessons for believers today. It underscores the importance of addressing sin decisively and systematically within a community, recognizing that unaddressed sin can incur God's displeasure. While the specific cultural context of intermarriage has changed, the principle of avoiding "unequal yokes" or spiritual compromises that threaten one's devotion to God remains highly relevant. It calls for personal and corporate commitment to holiness and obedience, understanding that true repentance involves concrete action to turn away from sin and back to God's ways.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 29:10 (6 votes)

    Now [it is] in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:8 (6 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 25:4 (4 votes)

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 13:17 (2 votes)

    And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

  • Isaiah 12:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

  • Joshua 7:26 (2 votes)

    And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

  • Psalms 78:38 (2 votes)

    But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.