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.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָשְׂא֣וּ
For they have taken
H5375
נָשְׂא֣וּ
For they have taken
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
2 of 17
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
מִבְּנֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם
of their daughters
H1323
מִבְּנֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם
of their daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
3 of 17
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְלִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם
for themselves and for their sons
H1121
וְלִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם
for themselves and for their sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙
have mingled
H6148
וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙
have mingled
Strong's:
H6148
Word #:
6 of 17
to braid, i.e., intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange)
זֶ֣רַע
seed
H2233
זֶ֣רַע
seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
7 of 17
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
so that the holy
H6944
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
so that the holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
8 of 17
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
בְּעַמֵּ֖י
themselves with the people
H5971
בְּעַמֵּ֖י
themselves with the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
9 of 17
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הָֽאֲרָצ֑וֹת
of those lands
H776
הָֽאֲרָצ֑וֹת
of those lands
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
10 of 17
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וְיַ֧ד
yea the hand
H3027
וְיַ֧ד
yea the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
הָ֥יְתָ֛ה
H1961
הָ֥יְתָ֛ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
14 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַזֶּ֖ה
H2088
Cross References
Exodus 34:16And 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 7:6For 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.Ezra 10:2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.Exodus 22:31And 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.Exodus 19:6And 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.1 Corinthians 7:14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.Deuteronomy 14:2For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.Malachi 2:15And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.Malachi 2:11Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Historical Context
The returned exiles, meant to rebuild a faithful community, were repeating pre-exilic sins. Deuteronomy 7:1-4 forbade marriage with Canaanite nations specifically to prevent idolatry—exactly what happened before exile. The 'people of those lands' (v. 1) included Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, etc.—same groups Israel should have driven out centuries earlier. That leadership participated demonstrates how pervasive the problem was. Ezra's prayer (9:6-15) and subsequent action (chapter 10: putting away foreign wives) seems harsh but reflects crisis thinking: the community's survival as God's people was at stake. This wasn't ethnic prejudice but theological preservation. New Testament parallel: believers shouldn't be 'unequally yoked' (2 Corinthians 6:14) in ways compromising faith.
Questions for Reflection
- What relationships or alliances do I form that compromise my distinct identity as God's person?
- How seriously do I take the call to be 'holy'—set apart for God—versus conforming to surrounding culture?
Analysis & Commentary
The crisis of intermarriage: '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.' The phrase 'holy seed' (zera ha-qodesh) refers to Israel, set apart for God (Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 7:6). 'Mingled' (hit'arevu) indicates mixing that compromises distinctiveness—marriage with pagans threatened covenant identity because it typically led to idolatry (as Solomon's case proved, 1 Kings 11:1-8). The prohibition wasn't racial but theological: preventing syncretism (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). That 'princes and rulers' led this sin aggravates it—leaders modeling covenant breaking. Ezra's response (9:3-15) shows anguish over sin threatening the restored community's spiritual integrity. This principle applies: believers shouldn't form primary bonds with unbelievers where spiritual compromise is likely (2 Corinthians 6:14).