Ezra 10:1
What does Ezra 10:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 10:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 10:1 means
Ezra’s posture of prayer, confession, and weeping before God publicly embodies true repentance. He does not excuse the community’s sin but mourns it, casting himself down at the temple where God’s presence was especially remembered. His contrition proves contagious: a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathers and also weeps bitterly. This shows how leaders can lead in repentance as well as in action. The people’s sorrow is not for misfortune but for guilt. When sin is named and mourned before God, hearts are softened, consciences are awakened, and the community is drawn together in humility to seek mercy and change.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now when 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 wept very sore.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now while Ezra was making his prayer and his statement of wrongdoing, weeping and falling down before the house of God, a very great number of men and women and children out of Israel came together round him: for the people were weeping bitterly.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And at Ezra's praying, and at his making confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there have been gathered unto him out of Israel an assembly very great--men and women and children--for the people have wept, multiplying weeping.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now when Esdras was thus praying, and beseeching, and weeping, and lying before the temple of God, there was gathered to him of Israel an exceeding great assembly of men and women and children, and the people wept with much lamentation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And while Ezra prayed, and made confession, weeping and falling down before the house ofGod, there were gathered to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children; for the people wept very much.
Context
The chapter opens where the previous grievance left off: Ezra is still praying and confessing over the sin of intermarriage. The crowd’s response marks a shift from private leadership grief to corporate conviction. This sets the stage for counsel and decision. In the verses that follow, a spokesman will outline a path of hope and remedy, moving the people from mere emotion to covenant commitment and structured obedience. The assembly’s tears here prepare them to receive hard words and to undertake costly steps to restore faithfulness.
v.1This passage
v.2And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Kings 9:3
And Jehovah said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
- Leviticus 26:40
And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary unto me,
- Romans 9:2
that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
- Joel 2:16
gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
- 2 Chronicles 20:9
If evil come upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before thee (for thy name is in this house), and cry unto thee in our affliction, and thou wilt hear and save.
- Jeremiah 9:1
Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!