Keraia
Ezra 9

Ezra 9:2

Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples · Ezra 9:1–4
Read Ezra 9

Translations

Modern
Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”
Traditional
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
Literal
For they have taken from their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of the lands. And indeed the hand of the leaders and the rulers has been foremost in this trespass.”
Latin
…tulerunt enim de filiabus eorum sibi et filiis suis, et commiscuerunt semen sanctum cum populis terrarum: manus etiam principum et magistratuum fuit in transgressione hac prima.

Original

Hebrew
English
Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”

Notes

Ezra 9:1–2

  • The events that follow occurred about four months after Ezra arrived (compare Ezra 7:9; 10:9).

  • Intermarriage with non-Israelites was risky because Israelites might worship other gods and adopt harmful religious practices (compare Ezra 4:1–5; Deuteronomy 7:1–4).

  • the holy seed has been mixed: Literally the holy seed has intermingled itself. Israel was a holy covenant nation (Exodus 19:6) and was not supposed to engage in pagan practices (Leviticus 19:2–4; 20:6–8, 22–26). Therefore, the people were to avoid marrying those who might influence them to adopt such practices. When religious and political leaders married foreigners, they risked leading others astray and damaging Israel's unique identity as a holy people.

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.

Parallels

Nehemiah 13:23–31

Glossary

Book of Ezra Elephantine Papyri First Book of Esdras Malachi, Book of Marriage, Marriage Customs Mixed Marriage

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God are Defiling Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Israelites Amorites: Intermarry with Jews Canaanites: The Exile Jews Take Wives From Children of God's People, Holy Christian Minister: Priests and Levites Fellowship with the Wicked Forbidden Fellowship: The Evil of Fellowship with the Wicked Exemplified by the Israelites Jebusites: Not Exterminated, but They Intermarry with the Israelites Levites: Intermarried with Canaanites Marriage: Wives Among the Israelites Must be Israelites Moabites are a Snare to the Israelites Perizzites: Not all Destroyed; Israelites Intermarry With Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning of the Captivity Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning: Polluted by Marrying Idolatrous Wives The Ammonites: The Jews Reprobated for Intermarrying With The Amorites: The Jews After the Captivity Condemned for Intermarrying With