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Ezra 9

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 9 of 10

1 ¶ And at the end of these things, the leaders came near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, as to their disgusting things, even the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

2 For they have taken from their daughters for themselves, and for their sons. So the holy seed have mixed themselves with the people of the lands. Yes, the hand of the leaders and the overseers has been foremost in this treachery.

3 And when I heard this thing, I tore my garments and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down stunned.

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Chapter Summary

1 Ezra mourns for the sin of the people for taking up with strangers. 5 He prays to Jehovah with confession of sins.

Key Hebrew Words

בִּגְדִ֖ treachery H899 · TWOT 198a
מַ֣עַל unfaithful H4604 · TWOT 1230a
כֹהֲנֵ֜י priest H3548 · TWOT 959a
קָדְשׁ֑ apartness H6944 · TWOT 1990a
שְׁלֹמָ֛ completeness H7965 · TWOT 2401a

People & Context

Report of the Mixed Marriages

Israelite leaders inform Ezra that the people, priests, and Levites have not separated from the surrounding nations, taking foreign wives and mixing t…

Ezra's Anguish and Mourning

Upon hearing of the intermarriage, Ezra tears his garments, plucks hair from his head and beard, and sits stunned until the evening offering. Those wh…

Ezra's Prayer of Confession

At the evening offering, Ezra falls on his knees, spreads his hands to Jehovah, and prays a deep prayer of shame and confession for the people's persi…

Timeline

Report of the Mixed Marriages

Israelite leaders inform Ezra that the people, priests, and Levites have not separated from the surrounding nations, taking foreign wives and mixing the 'holy seed' with the people of the lands.

Ezra 9:1-2
Ezra's Anguish and Mourning

Upon hearing of the intermarriage, Ezra tears his garments, plucks hair from his head and beard, and sits stunned until the evening offering. Those who tremble at God's word gather around him.

Ezra 9:3-4
Ezra's Prayer of Confession

At the evening offering, Ezra falls on his knees, spreads his hands to Jehovah, and prays a deep prayer of shame and confession for the people's persistent guilt and breaking of God's commandments.

Ezra 9:5-15

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