Ezra 9:1-3

Ezra’s Prayer About Intermarriage

1 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites.

2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”

3 When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled.

Ezra 9:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 9

Ezra being informed, by some of the princes who complained unto him, of the marriages of many of the Israelites with the people of the land, the Canaanites and others, was greatly grieved and distressed, Ezr 9:1-5, upon which he made a confession of their sins to God, with great shame, sorrow, and contrition, and deprecated the evils which they deserved, Ezr 9:6-15.

Cross References

• 1. S Ezra 6:21; Nehemiah 9:2
• 2. S Genesis 10:16; S Joshua 15:8
• 3. Genesis 19:38
• 4. S Genesis 19:37
• 5. Exodus 13:5; Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 20:17; S Joshua 3:10; S Judges 3:5; 1 Kings 9:20; S 2 Chronicles 8:7; Nehemiah 9:8
• 6. S Exodus 34:16; S Ruth 1:4
• 7. Psalms 106:35
• 8. S Exodus 22:31; S Leviticus 27:30; S Deuteronomy 14:2
• 9. Ezra 10:2
• 10. S Numbers 14:6
• 11. S Exodus 32:19; S Exodus 33:4