Ezra 10:3

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the women and those born to them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. And according to the law let it be done.

Latin

…percutiamus fœdus cum Domino Deo nostro, ut projiciamus universas uxores, et eos qui de his nati sunt, juxta voluntatem Domini, et eorum qui timent præceptum Domini Dei nostri: secundum legem fiat.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Ezra 10:3

A covenant is a binding agreement. In this case, it refers to divorcing pagan wives whom the people of Israel had married inappropriately. By doing this, they would renew their commitment to the Sinai covenant.
Women usually received custody of their children when a marriage ended (compare Hagar and Ishmael, Genesis 21:14).

Ezra 9:1–10:44

Ezra addressed the issue of marrying idol-worshipping foreigners. The Jewish leaders had permitted this practice, even though the early settlers had promised to stay away from pagan influences (Ezra 4:1–5). Ezra prayed for the nation and assisted those who felt guilty about their sins to correct their actions.

Theme notes and profiles

Ezra God’s Covenants Intermarriage and Divorce Purity and Identity

Related verses

Deuteronomy 7:2–3
…and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.
Ezra 9:4
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.
1 Corinthians 7:12–13
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
Psalm 119:120
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
Joshua 23:12–13
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,
Deuteronomy 29:12
…so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, which He is making with you today, and into His oath,
Psalm 119:59
I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.
Nehemiah 9:38
In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
2 Chronicles 34:21
“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”
Ezekiel 9:4
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
Ezra 10:44
All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.
2 Chronicles 34:31–32
So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Book of Ezra Elephantine Papyri First Book of Esdras Marriage, Marriage Customs People of the Land

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Examples of Forsaking: Israelites Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Sin of, to be Confessed, Deeply Repented of, and Forsaken Church: Rules of Discipline In, Mosaic and Christian Decision: Israelites Divorce: Forced on Those Who had Idolatrous Wives Divorce: General Scriptures Concerning Ezra: A Famous Scribe and Priest: Exhorts People to Put Away Their Heathen Wives Fear of God: Reverence Magistrates: Good: Samuel Righteous: Described

Ezra 10:3

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