📖 Ezra — Chapter 10 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Ezra 10:1 Now Rwhen Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people Twept very sore.
Ezra 10:2 And RShechaniah 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.
Ezra 10:3 Now therefore Rlet us make a covenant with our God Tto put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Ezra 10:4 RArise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
Ezra 10:5 Then Rarose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
Ezra 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into Rthe chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
Ezra 10:7 And Rthey made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
Ezra 10:8 RAnd that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be Tforfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
Ezra 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was Rthe ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for Tthe great rain.
Ezra 10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and Thave Rtaken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
Ezra 10:11 Now therefore Rmake confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
Ezra 10:12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, Rso must we do.
Ezra 10:13 But Rthe people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for Twe are many that have transgressed in this thing.
Ezra 10:14 Let now Rour rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God Tfor this matter be turned from us.
Ezra 10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah Twere employed about this matter: and RMeshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
Ezra 10:16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month Rto examine the matter.
Ezra 10:17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
Ezra 10:18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of RJeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Ezra 10:19 And they Rgave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
Ezra 10:20 And of the sons of RImmer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
Ezra 10:21 And of the sons of RHarim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Ezra 10:22 And of the sons of RPashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
Ezra 10:23 Also of the Levites; RJozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Ezra 10:24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
Ezra 10:25 Moreover of Israel: of the Rsons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
Ezra 10:26 And of the sons of RElam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
Ezra 10:27 And of the sons of RZattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Ezra 10:28 Of the sons also of RBebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
Ezra 10:29 And of the sons of RBani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.
Ezra 10:30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
Ezra 10:31 And of the sons of RHarim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
Ezra 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
Ezra 10:33 Of the sons of RHashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
Ezra 10:34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
Ezra 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
Ezra 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
Ezra 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
Ezra 10:38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
Ezra 10:39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
Ezra 10:40 TMachnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
Ezra 10:41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Ezra 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
Ezra 10:43 Of the sons of RNebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
Ezra 10:44 All these had taken Rstrange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezra 10:1–8 — A painful covenant response proposed
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The people gather in tears, and Shechaniah proposes sending away wives and children in response to this covenant crisis. Ezra calls for an oath and an assembly. This is a difficult historical response with real effects on families. It should not be treated as a general command to divorce spouses or abandon children today.
Key Truth: Read this difficult response within its covenant setting and human cost.
Check What You Remember
1. Who spoke to Ezra about hope in this matter? (Ezra 10:2)
Find it in Ezra 10:2 (KJV).
2. What did Ezra do while mourning? (Ezra 10:6)
Find it in Ezra 10:6 (KJV).
3. Within how many days were the people summoned? (Ezra 10:8)
Find it in Ezra 10:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezra 10:9–17 — The cases examined over time
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The assembly meets in heavy rain and hears Ezra's call for confession. Because the matter involves many people, appointed times and local leaders are proposed for examination. The process takes months rather than being settled in a single crowd meeting. The record recognizes complexity and the need to examine individual cases.
Key Truth: Take complex wrongdoing seriously enough to examine it carefully.
Check What You Remember
1. Which two tribes gathered at Jerusalem? (Ezra 10:9)
Find it in Ezra 10:9 (KJV).
2. What weather made the gathering difficult? (Ezra 10:9)
Find it in Ezra 10:9 (KJV).
3. In which month did the examination begin? (Ezra 10:16)
Find it in Ezra 10:16 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezra 10:18–44 — The names of those involved
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The closing list includes priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other households. It records guilt and the presence of children, leaving readers with the seriousness of the crisis rather than a simple happy ending. For marriages today, read this account alongside the New Testament's guidance, including its instruction about a willing unbelieving spouse.
Key Truth: Let confession and careful reading replace easy conclusions about difficult lives.
Check What You Remember
1. What animal did the first listed priests offer for trespass? (Ezra 10:19)
Find it in Ezra 10:19 (KJV).
2. Which singer is named? (Ezra 10:24)
Find it in Ezra 10:24 (KJV).
3. Did some of the marriages include children? (Ezra 10:44)
Find it in Ezra 10:44 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Corinthians 7:12 — Paul instructs a believer not to put away an unbelieving wife who is willing to dwell with him.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you address wrongdoing responsibly while taking seriously the people affected?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does Shechaniah pair confession with hope?
2. Who proposes putting away the wives and children?
3. Why does the assembly ask for a scheduled examination?
4. What dates bound the recorded examination?
5. What closing detail prevents overlooking the families affected?
Notes
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