Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.” New Living Translation For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.” English Standard Version For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” Berean Standard Bible 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!” King James Bible 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. New King James Version For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.” New American Standard Bible For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the officials and the leaders have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness.” NASB 1995 “For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.” NASB 1977 “For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.” Legacy Standard Bible For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the officials have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.” Amplified Bible For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the officials and chief men have been foremost in this unfaithful act and direct violation [of God’s will].” Christian Standard Bible Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has become mixed with the surrounding peoples. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has become mixed with the surrounding peoples. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!” American Standard Version For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. Contemporary English Version Some Israelite men have married foreign women and have let their sons do the same thing. Our own officials and leaders were the first to commit this disgusting sin, and now God's holy people are mixed with foreigners. English Revised Version For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. GOD'S WORD® Translation The Israelites and their sons have married some of these foreign women. They have mixed our holy race with the neighboring groups of people. Furthermore, the leaders and officials have led the way in being unfaithful." Good News Translation Jewish men were marrying foreign women, and so God's holy people had become contaminated. The leaders and officials were the chief offenders. International Standard Version because they and their sons have married foreign women. As a result, the holy people have mingled themselves among the peoples of these lands. As a matter of fact, the senior officials and the rulers have been foremost in this sin." Majority Standard Bible 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!? NET Bible Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!" New Heart English Bible For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the hand of the officials and leaders has been foremost in this trespass." Webster's Bible Translation 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. World English Bible For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor they have taken of their daughters to them, and to their sons, and the holy seed have mingled themselves among the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the heads and of the seconds have been first in this trespass.” Young's Literal Translation for they have taken of their daughters to them, and to their sons, and the holy seed have mingled themselves among the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the heads and of the seconds have been first in this trespass.' Smith's Literal Translation For they took from their daughters to themselves and to their sons: and the holy seed mingled themselves with the people of the lands: and the hand of the chiefs and the prophets was the first in this transgression. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression. Catholic Public Domain Version For they have taken from their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mixed a holy lineage with the peoples of the lands. And even the hand of the leaders and the magistrates has been first in this transgression.” New American Bible for they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, thus intermingling the holy seed with the peoples of the lands. Furthermore, the leaders and rulers have taken a prominent part in this apostasy!” New Revised Standard Version For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the people of the lands; and the hand of the elders and the Levites have been first in this iniquity. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because they took some of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed was mingled among the Gentiles of the cities, and the hand of the Elders and of the Levites was in this evil first.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.' Brenton Septuagint Translation For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers has been first in this transgression. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples1After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. 2Indeed, 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!” 3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.… 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 13:23-27 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! ... 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. 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. Judges 3:5-6 Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 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. 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.” ... 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. 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 17:7-8 All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. 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. ... Deuteronomy 23:3-6 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. / For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. ... 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 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. Treasury of Scripture 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: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass. taken of their Ezra 10:18-44 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah… Exodus 34:16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Deuteronomy 7:1-4 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; … the holy seed Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 22:31 And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. Deuteronomy 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. mingled Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. Nehemiah 13:3,23,24 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude… 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? the hand Ezra 10:18-44 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah… Nehemiah 13:4,17,28 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: … Jump to Previous Captains Chief Daughters Evil Fact Faithlessness First Foremost Hand Hands Heads Holy Indeed Itself Lands Mingled Mixed Officials Peoples Princes Race Rulers Seed Themselves Trespass Unfaithfulness Way WivesJump to Next Captains Chief Daughters Evil Fact Faithlessness First Foremost Hand Hands Heads Holy Indeed Itself Lands Mingled Mixed Officials Peoples Princes Race Rulers Seed Themselves Trespass Unfaithfulness Way WivesEzra 9 1. Ezra mourns for the affinity of the people with strangers5. He prays unto God, with confession of sins Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons This phrase highlights the issue of intermarriage between the Israelites and the surrounding nations. Historically, this was a significant concern because it often led to the adoption of pagan practices and idolatry, which were strictly forbidden by Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The Israelites were called to be a distinct and holy people, set apart for God’s purposes (Exodus 19:5-6). The marriages mentioned here were not merely social contracts but had spiritual implications, as they could lead to a dilution of religious purity and commitment to Yahweh. 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! Persons / Places / Events 1. EzraA scribe and priest who led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon. He was deeply committed to the Law of God and played a crucial role in the spiritual reformation of the Jewish people. 2. Israelites The people of Israel who had returned from exile. They were expected to live according to God's laws and maintain their distinct identity as God's chosen people. 3. Foreign Nations The surrounding peoples in the land of Canaan, including the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. These nations were known for their idolatrous practices. 4. Intermarriage The act of marrying individuals from these foreign nations, which was against the Mosaic Law due to the risk of leading the Israelites into idolatry. 5. Princes and Leaders The leaders of Israel who were among the first to commit the sin of intermarriage, setting a poor example for the rest of the community. Teaching Points The Importance of Spiritual PurityEzra 9:2 highlights the need for God's people to maintain spiritual purity by avoiding alliances that could lead them away from God. This principle remains relevant today as believers are called to be in the world but not of it. Leadership Accountability The failure of the princes and leaders in Ezra's time underscores the responsibility of leaders to set a godly example. Christian leaders today must be vigilant in their personal conduct and the guidance they provide to others. The Consequences of Disobedience The intermarriage issue in Ezra 9:2 serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. Believers are encouraged to adhere to God's Word to avoid spiritual compromise. Repentance and Restoration Ezra's response to the sin of intermarriage demonstrates the importance of repentance and seeking God's forgiveness. Christians are called to confess their sins and seek restoration through Christ.Verse 2. - The holy seed. Compare Isaiah 6:13. The "seed of Israel," however much it polluted itself by transgressions, was still "holy" by profession, by call, by obligation, by prophetic announcement. They were "a kingdom of priests, a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6); bound to be "separated from all the people that were on the face of the earth" (Exodus 33:16), and to keep themselves a "peculiar people." When they mingled themselves with the people of the lands, they not only broke a positive command (Deuteronomy 7:3), but did their best to frustrate God's entire purpose in respect of them, and to render all that he had done for them of no effect. The hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in the trespass. "Princes and rulers" are here opposed to people of the middle and lower ranks. The upper classes, whether clerical or lay, had been the chief offenders (see Ezra 10:18); and compare the similar defection of Jews of the upper classes in Nehemiah's time (Nehemiah 6:17, 18; Nehemiah 13:4, 28). EZRA'S ASTONISHMENT AND HORROR (Ezra 9:3, 4). In Babylonia, whence Ezra had come, the inclination to intermarry with the heathen had not, it would seem, shown itself. Exiles in a foreign land naturally cling to each other under their adverse circumstances, and, moreover, being despised by those among whom they sojourn, are not readily accepted by them into social fellowship, much less into affinity and alliance. Thus the thing was to Ezra a new thing. His familiarity with the Law, and, perhaps we may add, his insight into the grounds upon which the Law upon this point was founded, caused him to view the matter as one of the gravest kind, and to feel shocked and horror-struck at what was told him respecting it. He showed his feelings with the usual openness and abandon of an Oriental: first rending both his outer and his inner garments, then tearing his hair and his beard, and finally" sitting down astonied," motionless and speechless, until the time of the evening sacrifice. Such a manifestation of horror and amazement was well calculated to impress and affect the sympathetic and ardent people over whom Providence had placed him. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Indeed,כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the Israelites have taken נָשְׂא֣וּ (nā·śə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take some of their daughters [as wives] מִבְּנֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם (mib·bə·nō·ṯê·hem) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1323: A daughter for themselves לָהֶם֙ (lā·hem) Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They and their sons, וְלִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם (wə·liḇ·nê·hem) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1121: A son so that the holy הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ (haq·qō·ḏeš) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity seed זֶ֣רַע (ze·ra‘) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity has been mixed וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ (wə·hiṯ·‘ā·rə·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6148: To braid, intermix, technically, to traffic, give to be security with the people בְּעַמֵּ֖י (bə·‘am·mê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock of the land. הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת (hā·’ă·rā·ṣō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 776: Earth, land And the leaders הַשָּׂרִ֣ים (haś·śā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince and officials וְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים (wə·has·sə·ḡā·nîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5461: A prefect of a, province have taken the lead וְיַ֧ד (wə·yaḏ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand in this הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that unfaithfulness!” בַּמַּ֥עַל (bam·ma·‘al) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4604: An unfaithful or treacherous act Links Ezra 9:2 NIVEzra 9:2 NLT Ezra 9:2 ESV Ezra 9:2 NASB Ezra 9:2 KJV Ezra 9:2 BibleApps.com Ezra 9:2 Biblia Paralela Ezra 9:2 Chinese Bible Ezra 9:2 French Bible Ezra 9:2 Catholic Bible OT History: Ezra 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters (Ezr. 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