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.”
Ezra 9:2 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- 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.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- For 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.
- ASVAmerican 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.
- DARBYDarby
- for they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and have mingled the holy seed with the peoples of the lands; and the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this unfaithfulness.
- WEBThe World 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. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.
- YLTYoung'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.'
- BPVBiblePics Version
- For they have taken daughters from these nations for their sons, and their holy lineage has become mixed with the people of those lands. Indeed, the leaders and rulers have been the primary offenders in this sin.
Context: Ezra 9
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2For 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.
3And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
4Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
About Ezra 9: Intermarriage with Foreigners
The problem of intermarriage with foreigners and Ezra's response.
Commentary
Ezra 9 is a chapter that speaks to the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. In this chapter, Ezra is deeply grieved when he learns that the people of Israel have intermarried with the people of the land, a practice that is strictly forbidden by God. Ezra is so moved by this news that he tears his clothes, pulls out his hair, and falls on his knees in prayer. He pleads with God to forgive the people of Israel for their disobedience and to restore them to a right relationship with Him.