Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? New Living Translation But even so, we are again breaking your commands and intermarrying with people who do these detestable things. Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives? English Standard Version shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? Berean Standard Bible shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor? King James Bible Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? New King James Version should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people committing these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor? New American Standard Bible shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there would be no remnant nor any who would escape? NASB 1995 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape? NASB 1977 shall we again break Thy commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Wouldst Thou not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape? Legacy Standard Bible shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape? Amplified Bible shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who practice these repulsive acts? Would You not be angry with us to the point of total destruction, so that there would be no remnant nor survivor? Christian Standard Bible should we break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices? Wouldn’t you become so angry with us that you would destroy us, leaving neither remnant nor survivor? Holman Christian Standard Bible should we break Your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices? Wouldn’t You become so angry with us that You would destroy us, leaving no survivors? American Standard Version shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? Contemporary English Version Why should we disobey your commands again by letting our sons and daughters marry these foreigners who do such disgusting things? That would make you angry enough to destroy us all! English Revised Version shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? GOD'S WORD® Translation If we break your commandments again and intermarry with people doing these disgusting things, you will become even more angry with us until you finally destroy us and no survivors are left. Good News Translation Then how can we ignore your commandments again and intermarry with these wicked people? If we do, you will be so angry that you will destroy us completely and let no one survive. International Standard Version should we violate your commandments by intermarrying with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you had consumed us, with not even a remnant surviving to escape? NET Bible Shall we once again break your commandments and intermarry with these abominable peoples? Would you not be so angered by us that you would wipe us out, with no survivor or remnant? New Heart English Bible shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn't you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? Webster's Bible Translation Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleshall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor? World English Bible shall we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant, nor any to escape? Literal Translations Literal Standard Versiondo we turn back to break Your commands, and to join ourselves in marriage with the people of these abominations? Are You not angry against us—even to consumption—until there is no remnant and escaped part? Young's Literal Translation do we turn back to break Thy commands, and to join ourselves in marriage with the people of these abominations? art not Thou angry against us -- even to consumption -- till there is no remnant and escaped part? Smith's Literal Translation Shall we turn back to break thy commands and to contract marriage with the people of these abominations? Wilt thou not be angry with us even to finishing, for not a remaining and escaping. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat we should not turn away, nor break thy commandments, nor join in marriage with the people of these abominations. Art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to be saved? Catholic Public Domain Version so that we would not turn away and make your commandments void, and so that we would not unite in marriage with the peoples of these abominations. Could you be angry with us even to the very end, so that you would not to leave us a remnant to be saved? New American Bible shall we again violate your commandments by intermarrying with these abominable peoples? Would you not become so angered with us as to destroy us without remnant or survivor? New Revised Standard Version shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us without remnant or survivor? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd yet we have been perverse and have broken thy commandments and have gone and joined ourselves with these filthy peoples and have done according to their works, but thou art merciful; be not thou angry with us, but forgive our sins in thy sight; for thou art compassionate. Leave us a remnant in the world, for there is no one like thee, that we may not perish. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And we have turned back and we have violated your commandments, and we went, we have cleaved to these defiled Gentiles, and we do according to their works, and you are merciful! Do not be angry against us! Forgive our debts from before you, for you are merciful! Leave us a remnant in the world, because there is none like you, and we will not be destroyed! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917shall we again break Thy commandments, and make marriages with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? Brenton Septuagint Translation whereas we have repeatedly broken thy commandments, and intermarried with the people of the lands: be not very angry with us to our utter destruction, so that there should be no remnant or escaping one. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ezra's Prayer of Confession…13After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this), 14shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor? 15O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”… Cross References 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. Nehemiah 13:25-27 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! / Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. / Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” Exodus 34:15-16 Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. 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. 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.” ... Judges 2:2-3 and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? / So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.” 1 Kings 11:1-2 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. Malachi 2:11 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. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 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. 2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. / I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. Leviticus 18:24-30 Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. / Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. / But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances, and you must not commit any of these abominations—neither your native-born nor the foreigner who lives among you. ... Romans 12:2 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. 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. / 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.” Treasury of Scripture Should we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? would not you be angry with us till you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? we again John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 Peter 2:20,21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning… join in Ezra 9:2 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. Exodus 23:32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. Judges 2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? wouldest not thou Exodus 32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. Numbers 16:21,45 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment… Deuteronomy 9:8,14 Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you… no remnant Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Deuteronomy 32:26,27 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men: … Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Jump to Previous Abominations Affinity Angry Break Commandments Commands Commit Consume Consumed Destruction Detestable Disgusting Enough Escape Escaping Hadst Intermarry Join Orders Peoples Point Remnant Wives WouldestJump to Next Abominations Affinity Angry Break Commandments Commands Commit Consume Consumed Destruction Detestable Disgusting Enough Escape Escaping Hadst Intermarry Join Orders Peoples Point Remnant Wives WouldestEzra 9 1. Ezra mourns for the affinity of the people with strangers5. He prays unto God, with confession of sins shall we again break Your commandments This phrase highlights the recurring issue of Israel's disobedience to God's laws. The commandments referred to are those given through Moses, particularly those concerning separation from pagan practices and peoples (Exodus 34:12-16, Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Historically, Israel's failure to adhere to these commandments led to spiritual and national consequences, including exile. The repetition of "again" underscores a pattern of disobedience and repentance throughout Israel's history. and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor? Persons / Places / Events 1. EzraA scribe and priest who led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He was deeply concerned about the spiritual and moral state of the returned exiles. 2. The Israelites The people of God who had returned from Babylonian exile. They were struggling with maintaining their distinct identity and faithfulness to God's commandments. 3. Intermarriage with Foreign Peoples The Israelites were intermarrying with the surrounding nations, which was against God's commandments due to the risk of idolatry and moral corruption. 4. Jerusalem The city where the returned exiles were rebuilding the temple and re-establishing their community. 5. God's Commandments The laws given to the Israelites, which included prohibitions against intermarriage with pagan nations to prevent the adoption of idolatrous practices. Teaching Points Faithfulness to God's CommandmentsEzra's prayer highlights the importance of adhering to God's laws, especially in areas that can lead to spiritual compromise. The Danger of Compromise Intermarriage with those who do not share the same faith can lead to a dilution of beliefs and practices, drawing individuals away from God. The Role of Leadership Ezra's response to the sin of the people shows the responsibility of leaders to guide and correct their communities according to God's word. Repentance and Restoration The passage underscores the need for genuine repentance and a return to God's ways to avoid His righteous judgment. The Importance of a Remnant God's mercy in preserving a remnant is a recurring theme, emphasizing His faithfulness even when His people are unfaithful. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezra 9:14?2. How does Ezra 9:14 warn against repeating past sins and intermarriage? 3. What consequences does Ezra 9:14 suggest for forsaking God's commandments? 4. How can Ezra 9:14 guide us in maintaining spiritual purity today? 5. What similar warnings are found in other scriptures about disobedience and consequences? 6. How can we apply Ezra 9:14 to avoid compromising our faith in society? 7. Why does Ezra 9:14 emphasize the importance of separating from foreign influences? 8. How does Ezra 9:14 reflect on the consequences of disobedience to God's commands? 9. What historical context led to the intermarriages mentioned in Ezra 9:14? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezra 9? 11. Should Ezra have ordered abandoning foreign wives and children? 12. Ezra 10:44 - How can a just God require separating from wives and children if some may have converted to the faith? 13. Does Ezra 9:2 contradict the acceptance of foreign converts in other passages of Scripture, such as the story of Ruth? 14. Ezra 10:15 - Why are only a few individuals mentioned as opposing this course of action, despite its obvious moral and social implications? What Does Ezra 9:14 Mean ContextEzra has just returned from exile to find that leaders and people have married pagan neighbors (Ezra 9:1-2). Shocked, he tears his garments and prays, confessing that God had shown mercy by preserving “a remnant and a stake in His holy place” (Ezra 9:8-9). Against that backdrop, verse 14 voices his core concern. Shall we again break Your commandments • God had plainly forbidden covenant Israelites to marry idol-worshiping nations (Exodus 34:15-16; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Joshua 23:12-13). • Ezra’s word “again” recalls the generations-long pattern of disobedience that led to the Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Chronicles 36:14-21). • He speaks as though the choice is immediate and personal—“shall we”—because every act of sin is a fresh breaking of God’s timeless law (James 2:10). and intermarry with the peoples • Intermarriage in itself was not racial but spiritual; it threatened Israel’s distinct calling to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). • Foreign spouses normally brought foreign gods, as Solomon’s sad story proves (1 Kings 11:1-8). • Allowing such unions now would unravel the spiritual reforms begun under Zerubbabel and Ezra, compromising worship, teaching, and community purity (Malachi 2:11). who commit these abominations • “Abominations” points to idolatry and its practices—child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21), temple prostitution (Deuteronomy 23:17), occult rites (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). • By naming the sins, Ezra underscores that Israel would not merely be forming harmless social ties but entangling itself with actions detestable to God (Psalm 106:34-39). • The phrase keeps responsibility clear: the surrounding peoples were actively practicing what God hated, so alliance with them could never be neutral (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). Would You not become so angry with us • Ezra knows God’s character: “The LORD is slow to anger… yet by no means leaves the guilty unpunished” (Numbers 14:18). • Past judgments—wilderness deaths (Psalm 95:10-11), Assyrian conquest (Isaiah 10:5-6), Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 25:8-11)—prove divine wrath is real when covenant boundaries are crossed. • By framing it as a question, Ezra appeals to God’s righteousness while confessing Israel’s vulnerability to just anger (Lamentations 3:22-23). as to wipe us out • Total destruction is the covenant curse for persistent rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:63-66). • Ezra recognizes that the return from exile was an unmerited reprieve; squandering it could trigger the ultimate penalty (Nehemiah 9:29-31). • The thought of being “wiped out” echoes earlier intercession by Moses after the golden calf (Exodus 32:10-14), showing how leaders plead for mercy against deserved judgment. leaving no remnant or survivor • A “remnant” is the small, preserved group through whom God keeps His promises (Isaiah 10:20-22; Romans 11:5). • Ezra fears that continued sin could erase even that remnant, cutting off the lineage leading to Messiah (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:17). • His plea thus safeguards both immediate community survival and God’s redemptive plan. summary Ezra 9:14 is a heartfelt confession that weighs past grace against present compromise. Ezra fears that repeating forbidden intermarriage will provoke God’s righteous anger to the point of national extinction, erasing the very remnant He has just restored. The verse reminds believers that God’s commands are meant to protect covenant purity, that sin invites real judgment, and that ongoing faithfulness preserves both testimony and future hope (1 Peter 2:9-12). Hebrew shall we againהֲנָשׁוּב֙ (hă·nā·šūḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again break לְהָפֵ֣ר (lə·hā·p̄êr) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 6565: To break up, to violate, frustrate Your commandments מִצְוֺתֶ֔יךָ (miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā) Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4687: Commandment and intermarry וּ֨לְהִתְחַתֵּ֔ן (ū·lə·hiṯ·ḥat·tên) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct Strong's 2859: To give, away in marriage, to contract affinity by marriage with the peoples בְּעַמֵּ֥י (bə·‘am·mê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock who commit these הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh) Article | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those abominations? הַתֹּעֵב֖וֹת (hat·tō·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol Would You not הֲל֤וֹא (hă·lō·w) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no become so angry תֶֽאֱנַף־ (ṯe·’ĕ·nap̄-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 599: To breathe hard, be enraged with us בָּ֙נוּ֙ (bā·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's Hebrew as to עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while wipe us out, כַּלֵּ֔ה (kal·lêh) Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent leaving no לְאֵ֥ין (lə·’ên) Preposition-l | Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle remnant שְׁאֵרִ֖ית (šə·’ê·rîṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7611: Rest, residue, remnant, remainder or survivor? וּפְלֵיטָֽה׃ (ū·p̄ə·lê·ṭāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6413: Deliverance, an escaped portion Links Ezra 9:14 NIVEzra 9:14 NLT Ezra 9:14 ESV Ezra 9:14 NASB Ezra 9:14 KJV Ezra 9:14 BibleApps.com Ezra 9:14 Biblia Paralela Ezra 9:14 Chinese Bible Ezra 9:14 French Bible Ezra 9:14 Catholic Bible OT History: Ezra 9:14 Shall we again break your commandments (Ezr. 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