Ezra 10:16
New International Version
So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases,

New Living Translation
So this was the plan they followed. Ezra selected leaders to represent their families, designating each of the representatives by name. On December 29, the leaders sat down to investigate the matter.

English Standard Version
Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers’ houses, according to their fathers’ houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter;

Berean Standard Bible
So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,

King James Bible
And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

New King James Version
Then the descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of the fathers’ households, were set apart by the fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

New American Standard Bible
But the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest selected men who were the heads of fathers’ households for each of their father’s households, all of them by name. So they convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

NASB 1995
But the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of fathers’ households for each of their father’s households, all of them by name. So they convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

NASB 1977
But the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of fathers’ households for each of their father’s households, all of them by name. So they convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest separated out men who were heads of fathers’ households for each of their father’s households, all of them by name. So they convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

Amplified Bible
Then the [former] exiles did so. Ezra the priest and men who were heads of fathers’ households were selected, according to their fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

Christian Standard Bible
The exiles did what had been proposed. The priest Ezra selected men who were family heads, all identified by name, to represent their ancestral families. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The exiles did what had been proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family leaders, all identified by name, to represent their ancestral houses. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter,

American Standard Version
And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers' houses, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

Contemporary English Version
Everyone else who had returned from exile agreed with the plan. So Ezra the priest chose men who were heads of the families, and he listed their names. They started looking into the matter on the first day of the tenth month,

English Revised Version
And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers' houses, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were separated; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The former exiles did this. Ezra the priest chose men who were heads of families. He chose one from each family division. (They were all [listed] by name.) They sat down on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

Good News Translation
The returned exiles accepted the plan, so Ezra the priest appointed men from among the heads of the clans and recorded their names. On the first day of the tenth month they began their investigation,

International Standard Version
So those who had returned from exile did this. Ezra the priest and leaders of certain ancestral groups listed by name devoted themselves to examine the situation on the first day of the tenth month.

Majority Standard Bible
So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,

NET Bible
So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out by name men who were leaders in their family groups. They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month,

New Heart English Bible
But the descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest selected for himself men, heads of fathers’ houses, according to their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names. So they began their sessions on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

World English Bible
The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons of the expulsion do so, and Ezra the priest, [and] men, heads of the fathers, for the house of their fathers, are separated, even all of them by name, and they sit on the first day of the tenth month, to examine the matter;

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of the removal do so, and Ezra the priest, and men, heads of the fathers, for the house of their fathers, are separated, even all of them by name, and they sit on the first day of the tenth month, to examine the matter;

Smith's Literal Translation
And thus the sons of the exile will do. And they will be separated, Ezra the priest, men, heads of the fathers, for the house of their fathers, and all of them by names, and they will it down in one day to the tenth month to seek out the word.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the children of the captivity did so. And Esdras the priest, and the men heads of the families in the houses of their fathers, and all by their names, went and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the sons of the transmigration did so. And Ezra, the priest, and the men who were the leaders of the families in the houses of their fathers, and all according to their names, went and sat down, on the first day of the tenth month, so that they might examine the matter.

New American Bible
The exiles did as agreed. Ezra the priest appointed as his assistants men who were heads of ancestral houses, one for each ancestral house, all of them designated by name. They held sessions to examine the matter, beginning with the first day of the tenth month.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of families, according to their families, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest selected ten men, chiefs of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them were called by their names; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And thus did the children of the captivity, and Azra the Priest separated ten men, Chiefs of the fathers, for the house of their fathers, and all of them were called by name, and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers' houses, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were separated; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the children of the captivity did thus: and Esdras the priest, and heads of families according to their house were separated, and all by their names, for they returned in the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People's Confession of Sin
15(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.) 16So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation, 17and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 9:2
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...

Nehemiah 13:23-27
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. / Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. / I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! ...

1 Corinthians 5:9-13
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. ...

Malachi 2:11-12
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. / As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Deuteronomy 17:9-11
You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case. / You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, / according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you.

2 Kings 23:3
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. And all the people entered into the covenant.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

1 Kings 8:61
So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”

Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. / Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

2 Chronicles 19:8-10
Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. / He commanded them, saying, “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD. / For every dispute that comes before you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards bloodshed or some other violation of law, commandments, statutes, or ordinances—you are to warn them, so that they will not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath will not come upon you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.


Treasury of Scripture

And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

to examine the matter

Deuteronomy 13:14
Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;

Job 29:16
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

John 7:51
Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

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Apart Captivity Chief Children Examine Exiles Ezra Fathers First Heads House Houses Matter Month Names Priest Sat Selected Separated Tenth
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Apart Captivity Chief Children Examine Exiles Ezra Fathers First Heads House Houses Matter Month Names Priest Sat Selected Separated Tenth
Ezra 10
1. Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages
6. Ezra assembles the people
9. The people repent, and promise amendment
15. The care to perform it
18. The names of them which had married strange wives














So the exiles did as proposed
The phrase "the exiles" refers to the Jewish people who had returned from Babylonian captivity. This return was a fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people to their land. The Hebrew root for "exiles" is "gola," which signifies those who have been carried away. This highlights the theme of redemption and restoration, as God brings His people back to their covenant land. The phrase "did as proposed" indicates obedience and a collective commitment to follow through with the plan to address the issue of intermarriage with foreign women, which was against the Mosaic Law. This obedience reflects a communal repentance and a desire to align with God's will.

Ezra the priest
Ezra is identified as "the priest," emphasizing his role as a spiritual leader and mediator between God and the people. The Hebrew name "Ezra" means "help" or "helper," which is fitting as he helps guide the people back to faithfulness. As a priest, Ezra's authority is rooted in his lineage from Aaron, the first high priest, and his dedication to the Law of Moses. His leadership is crucial in this period of reformation and renewal.

selected men who were family heads
The selection of "family heads" underscores the importance of leadership and accountability within the community. These men were chosen because they held positions of influence and respect within their families and tribes. The Hebrew term for "heads" is "rosh," which can also mean "chief" or "leader." This selection process ensured that the investigation into the matter of intermarriage was conducted with wisdom and fairness, as these leaders were responsible for upholding the covenant within their own households.

one from each family division
This phrase indicates a representative approach, ensuring that each family division had a voice in the proceedings. The Hebrew word for "division" is "mishpachah," which refers to a clan or extended family group. This structure reflects the tribal organization of Israel, where each tribe and family had a distinct role and responsibility. By involving representatives from each division, the process was inclusive and aimed at achieving a consensus that honored the entire community.

and all of them designated by name
The phrase "designated by name" highlights the importance of accountability and transparency. In ancient Israel, names held significant meaning and were often reflective of one's character or destiny. By naming these individuals, the text emphasizes their responsibility and the trust placed in them to carry out this sensitive task. It also serves as a record of those who were willing to stand for righteousness and uphold the covenant.

On the first day of the tenth month
The specific mention of "the first day of the tenth month" provides a historical timestamp, grounding the narrative in a real and specific time. The Hebrew calendar is lunar-based, and the tenth month, Tevet, typically falls in December-January. This detail underscores the meticulous nature of the record-keeping and the importance of the event. It also reflects the urgency and promptness with which the matter was addressed following the decision to investigate.

they sat down to investigate the matter
The act of sitting down to "investigate the matter" indicates a deliberate and methodical approach to resolving the issue. The Hebrew root for "investigate" is "darash," which means to seek, inquire, or study. This suggests a thorough examination and a commitment to understanding the full scope of the problem. The phrase conveys a sense of solemnity and seriousness, as the leaders sought to discern God's will and apply His law to the situation. This investigation was not merely a legal procedure but a spiritual exercise aimed at restoring holiness and purity to the community.

Verse 16. - The children of the captivity did so. The people generally, notwithstanding the opposition of Jonathan, acquiesced in Ezra's decision, and acted accordingly. Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers. There is no "with," or other connective, in the original; but our translators did right in supplying one, since the conjunction ו, "and," has almost certainly fallen out of the text by the mistake of a copyist. After the house of their fathers. Rather, "for each father's house" - i.e. "for each family." It would seem from this clause that each recognised family was represented on the commission by its head. The number of such families appears by Ezra 2:3-61 to have been ninety-eight. And all of them by their names. Compare with this Ezra 8:20. In both places Ezra probably means that a list of the names was made out, and was in his possession, though he does not think it necessary to give them. Were separated. i.e. "set apart for the business." And they sat down, i.e. "began their sittings," on the first day of the tenth month, the month Tebeth, corresponding nearly to our January.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the exiles
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

did
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (way·ya·‘ă·śū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

as proposed.
כֵן֮ (ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

Ezra
עֶזְרָ֨א (‘ez·rā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5830: Ezra -- 'help', three Israelites

the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֜ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

selected
וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ (way·yib·bā·ḏə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 914: To be divided, separate

men
אֲנָשִׁ֨ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who were family
הָאָב֛וֹת (hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

heads,
רָאשֵׁ֧י (rā·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7218: The head

each of them
וְכֻלָּ֣ם (wə·ḵul·lām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

identified by name,
בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת (bə·šê·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8034: A name

to represent their families.
אֲבֹתָ֖ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

On the first
אֶחָד֙ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

day
בְּי֤וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

of the tenth
הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י (hā·‘ă·śî·rî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 6224: Tenth, tenth month, part

month
לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (la·ḥō·ḏeš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

they convened
לְדַרְי֖וֹשׁ (lə·ḏar·yō·wōš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

the investigation,
הַדָּבָֽר׃ (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT History: Ezra 10:16 The children of the captivity did so (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 10:15
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