📖 Ezra — Chapter 9 (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 9:1 Now when these things were done, Rthe 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.
Ezra 9:2 For they have Rtaken 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 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I Rrent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
Ezra 9:4 Then were assembled unto me every one that Rtrembled 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.
Ezra 9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my Theaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, RI fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
Ezra 9:6 And said, O my God, RI am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our Ttrespass is grown up unto the heavens.
Ezra 9:7 RSince the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Ezra 9:8 And now for a little Tspace Rgrace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us Ta nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Ezra 9:9 For Rwe were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and Tto repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Ezra 9:10 And now, O our God, Rwhat shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
Ezra 9:11 Which thou hast commanded Tby thy servants the prophets, saying, RThe land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it Tfrom one end to another with their uncleanness.
Ezra 9:12 Now therefore Rgive not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
Ezra 9:13 And Rafter all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God Thast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
Ezra 9:14 Should Rwe again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
Ezra 9:15 O LORD God of Israel, Rthou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezra 9:1–4 — A report of covenant unfaithfulness
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Leaders report marriages connected with the surrounding peoples' abominations, with rulers prominent in the wrongdoing. Ezra responds in grief, and others who tremble at God's word gather. The chapter concerns Israel's covenant obligations and religious unfaithfulness, not a claim that ethnicity makes a person inferior or a general ban on interracial marriage.
Key Truth: Recognize covenant unfaithfulness without turning the passage into ethnic contempt.
Check What You Remember
1. Who brought the report to Ezra? (Ezra 9:1)
Find it in Ezra 9:1 (KJV).
2. Which groups were prominent in the trespass? (Ezra 9:2)
Find it in Ezra 9:2 (KJV).
3. Until what time did Ezra sit astonished? (Ezra 9:4)
Find it in Ezra 9:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezra 9:5–9 — Confession and remembered mercy
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ezra kneels and confesses using the language of shared responsibility. He remembers earlier judgment and the recent grace that preserved a remnant and revived worship. His prayer does not minimize wrongdoing or forget mercy. Both truths make the present failure more serious and the need to return more urgent.
Key Truth: Confess honestly while remembering grace received.
Check What You Remember
1. What posture did Ezra take in prayer? (Ezra 9:5)
Find it in Ezra 9:5 (KJV).
2. What had God preserved to escape? (Ezra 9:8)
Find it in Ezra 9:8 (KJV).
3. Had God forsaken them in bondage? (Ezra 9:9)
Find it in Ezra 9:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezra 9:10–15 — A plea without excuses
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ezra acknowledges that the commandments have been forsaken despite deliverance. He recalls the concern with the peoples' abominations and ends before the righteous God without claiming innocence. The prayer prepares for the difficult response in chapter 10. Its immediate lesson is honest confession, not a ready-made instruction for dissolving marriages today.
Key Truth: Bring wrongdoing before God without excuses.
Check What You Remember
1. What had the people forsaken? (Ezra 9:10)
Find it in Ezra 9:10 (KJV).
2. Had God punished them less than their iniquities deserved? (Ezra 9:13)
Find it in Ezra 9:13 (KJV).
3. How does Ezra describe God in the closing prayer? (Ezra 9:15)
Find it in Ezra 9:15 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Deuteronomy 7:4 — The marriage warning in the law specifically names the danger of turning toward other gods.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where do you need to confess honestly while remembering mercy already received?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What makes the reported trespass especially serious among leaders?
2. How does Ezra’s prayer identify him with the people’s guilt?
3. How does Ezra describe the recent grace?
4. How are bondage and mercy held together in the prayer?
5. What comparison does Ezra make about punishment and guilt?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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