New International Version So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. New Living Translation The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and by the others in the land who had turned from their corrupt practices to worship the LORD, the God of Israel. English Standard Version It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel. Berean Standard Bible The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. Berean Literal Bible And the sons of Israel who had returned from the captivity, with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the peoples of the land to them, to seek YHWH, God of Israel, ate together, King James Bible And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, New King James Version Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel. New American Standard Bible And the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate the Passover. NASB 1995 The sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate the Passover. NASB 1977 And the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate the Passover. Legacy Standard Bible Then the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate the Passover. Amplified Bible The Passover was eaten by the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) who returned from exile and by all those who had separated themselves from the [ceremonial] uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them, in order to seek the LORD God of Israel. Berean Annotated Bible The Israelites (God prevails) who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples (nations) of the land to seek the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel. Christian Standard Bible The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land in order to worship the LORD, the God of Israel. Holman Christian Standard Bible The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land in order to worship Yahweh, the God of Israel. American Standard Version And the children of Israel that were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, did eat, Contemporary English Version The sacrifices were eaten by the Israelites who had returned and by the neighboring people who had given up the sinful customs of other nations in order to worship the LORD God of Israel. English Revised Version And the children of Israel, which were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, did eat, GOD'S WORD® Translation The lambs were eaten by the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of the non-Jews in the land to worship the LORD God of Israel. Good News Translation The sacrifices were eaten by all the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all those who had given up the pagan ways of the other people who were living in the land and who had come to worship the LORD God of Israel. International Standard Version So the Israelis who had returned from captivity ate the Passover with all who had consecrated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel. NET Bible The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the LORD God of Israel. New Heart English Bible The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, ate, Webster's Bible Translation And the children of Israel, who had returned from captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. World English Bible The children of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the sons of Israel, those returning from the captivity, and everyone who is separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to them, to seek to YHWH, God of Israel, eat, Berean Literal Bible And the sons of Israel who had returned from the captivity, with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the peoples of the land to them, to seek YHWH, God of Israel, ate together, Young's Literal Translation And the sons of Israel, those returning from the captivity, and every one who is separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land unto them, to seek to Jehovah, God of Israel, do eat, Smith's Literal Translation And the sons of Israel will eat; those turning back from exile and every one being separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the earth to them, to seek for Jehovah the God of Israel; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the children of Israel that were returned from captivity, and all that had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of the earth to them, to seek the Lord the God of Israel, did eat. Catholic Public Domain Version And the sons of Israel, who had been returned from the transmigration, and all those who had separated themselves from the defilement of the Gentiles of the earth to them, so that they might seek the Lord, the God of Israel, ate New American Bible The Israelites who had returned from the exile and all those who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles in the land shared in it, seeking the LORD, the God of Israel. New Revised Standard Version It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by all who had joined them and separated themselves from the pollutions of the nations of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the children of Israel who had come up from the captivity of Babylon, all such who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land to pray before the LORD God of Israel, did eat. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the children of Israel who came up from the captivity of Babel ate, everyone who had separated from the abominations of the Gentiles of the land to pray before LORD JEHOVAH, God of Israel. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the children of Israel, that were come back out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, did eat, Brenton Septuagint Translation And the children of Israel ate the passover, even they that were of the captivity, and every one who separated himself to them from the uncleanness of the nations of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Passover…20All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves. 21The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. 22For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.… Cross References The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it Exodus 12:43-49 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner is to eat of it. / But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him. / A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover. … Numbers 9:10-14 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD. / Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; / they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes. … Ezra 1:5-6 So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. / And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings. together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land Nehemiah 10:28-29 “The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand, / hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord. Ezra 9:11-12 that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end. / Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’ Ezra 10:10-11 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. / Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.” to seek the LORD, the God of Israel 2 Chronicles 15:12-15 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. / And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. / They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns. … Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 1 Chronicles 16:10-11 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. / Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Exodus 12:48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. Isaiah 56:6-7 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant— / I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” 2 Chronicles 30:25 Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and the whole assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah. 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. Numbers 9:14 If a foreigner dwelling among you wants to observe the Passover to the LORD, he is to do so according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the foreigner and the native of the land.’” Leviticus 17:8-9 Tell them that if anyone from the house of Israel or any foreigner living among them offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice / but does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD, that man must be cut off from his people. 1 Kings 8:41-43 And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— / for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name. Treasury of Scripture And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, all such Ezra 9:11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. Numbers 9:6,7,10-14 And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: … Isaiah 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. did eat Exodus 12:47-49 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it… Psalm 93:5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever. Jump to Previous Ate Captivity Children Eat Eaten Evil Exile Filthiness Food Gentile Heathen Impurity Israel Israelites Join Joined Nations Neighbors Order Passover Pollutions Practices Seek Separated Separating Servants Themselves Together Unclean WaysJump to Next Ate Captivity Children Eat Eaten Evil Exile Filthiness Food Gentile Heathen Impurity Israel Israelites Join Joined Nations Neighbors Order Passover Pollutions Practices Seek Separated Separating Servants Themselves Together Unclean WaysEzra 6 1. Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, makes a new decree for building13. By the help of Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai the temple is finished 16. The feast of the dedication is kept 19. and the Passover The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, The returned exiles kept the Passover after the temple was rebuilt, marking their restoration to worship in Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity. The meal recalled God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt and affirmed that He had preserved His people and brought them back to the land. Exo 12:43-49 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute… together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land Others joined the celebration only after turning away from the idolatrous practices and ceremonial defilement associated with the surrounding nations. Participation required a deliberate break with pagan worship and identification with the covenant people. Neh 10:28-29 The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers… to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. Their separation was directed toward worshiping and obeying the one true God. The Passover gathering showed a renewed commitment to the LORD and to the holiness required of those who belonged to Him. 2Ch 15:12-15 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD,… Persons / Places / Events 1. Israelites who had returned from exileThese are the Jewish people who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity, fulfilling God's promise of restoration. 2. The Passover meal The context of this verse is the celebration of the Passover, a significant event commemorating God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt. 3. Those who separated themselves This refers to individuals, possibly including non-Israelites, who chose to follow the God of Israel and separate themselves from the pagan practices of the surrounding nations. 4. The peoples of the land These are the non-Israelite inhabitants of the region, often associated with idolatry and practices contrary to the worship of Yahweh. 5. The LORD, the God of Israel The covenant-keeping God who is central to the identity and worship of the Israelites. Teaching Points The Importance of Separation for HolinessJust as the Israelites separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples, Christians are called to live distinct lives, set apart for God. Inclusivity in Worship The inclusion of those who separated themselves to seek the Lord shows that God’s invitation extends beyond ethnic Israel to all who genuinely seek Him. The Significance of Remembrance Celebrating the Passover was a way for the Israelites to remember God's faithfulness. Similarly, Christians are called to remember Christ’s sacrifice through communion. Commitment to God’s Commands The returned exiles’ obedience in celebrating the Passover demonstrates the importance of adhering to God’s commands as an expression of faith. Community in Worship The communal aspect of the Passover celebration underscores the importance of gathering together in worship and fellowship. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezra 6:21?2. How does Ezra 6:21 emphasize the importance of purity in worship practices? 3. What steps can we take to separate from "the filth of the nations"? 4. How does Ezra 6:21 connect to New Testament teachings on holiness? 5. In what ways can we prepare our hearts to seek the Lord today? 6. How can we encourage others to join in worship and seek God together? 7. How does Ezra 6:21 emphasize the importance of purity and separation from surrounding cultures? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Ezra 6:21? 9. How does Ezra 6:21 reflect the theme of covenant renewal in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezra 6? (21) Separated themselves . . .--Not proselytes from the heathen are intended, but the remnant of the Jews in the land who had consorted with the foreign populations introduced by the conquerors. Their intermarriages and other acts of conformity are constantly referred to throughout Ezra and Nehemiah.Verse 21. - Such as had separated themselves unto them. i.e. such proselytes as had been made since the return from the captivity. We have perhaps a mention of some of these proselytes in the "Sherezer" and "Regem-melech" sent by the men of Bethel a short time before this to make inquiries of the priests at Jerusalem in respect of fasting (Zechariah 7:2). These names are Assyrian, and not likely to have been given to persons born Jews. From the filthiness of the heathen means "from their moral defilements" (see ch. 9:11). It is always to be borne in mind that heathen idolatry was full of such impurities. Ezra 6:21 paints a picture of a purified, unified, worshiping community. Returned exiles and repentant newcomers sit at one Passover table, having turned from defilement to seek the living God. The verse reminds us that redemption is by God’s initiative, purity is essential, inclusion is possible for all who repent, and the goal is ever-deeper fellowship with the Lord. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The Israelitesבְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son who had returned הַשָּׁבִים֙ (haš·šā·ḇîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again from exile מֵֽהַגּוֹלָ֔ה (mê·hag·gō·w·lāh) Preposition-m, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1473: Exile, exiles ate it, וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ (way·yō·ḵə·lū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 398: To eat together with all וְכֹ֗ל (wə·ḵōl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every who had separated themselves הַנִּבְדָּ֛ל (han·niḇ·dāl) Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 914: To be divided, separate from the uncleanness מִטֻּמְאַ֥ת (miṭ·ṭum·’aṯ) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 2932: Religious impurity of the Gentiles גּוֹיֵֽ־ (gō·w·yê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts of the land, הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land in order to seek לִדְרֹ֕שׁ (liḏ·rōš) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship the LORD, לַֽיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of Israel. יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Additonal Resources Ezra 6:21 Blue Letter BibleEzra 6:21 Bible Gateway Ezra 6:21 Bible.com Ezra 6:21 NIV |
    |