Ezra 10:11
What does Ezra 10:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 10:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 10:11 means
Ezra commands two actions: make confession to Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do His pleasure by separating from the peoples of the land and the foreign women. Repentance is not feelings only; it is a return to God demonstrated in obedience. Confession acknowledges God’s right and the people’s wrong; separation restores covenant distinctness. The phrase “do his pleasure” centers God’s will, not human convenience. This call honors both the vertical relationship (with God) and the horizontal outworking (distinctness from entangling alliances that draw hearts away). It is a hard path, but it is the path of renewed fellowship with the Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now therefore make 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So now, give praise to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and make yourselves separate from the peoples of the land and from the strange women.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and, now, make confession to Jehovah, God of your fathers, and do His good pleasure, and be separated from the peoples of the land, and from the strange women.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from your strange wives.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And now make confession to Jehovah theGod of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign wives.
Context
After accusing the community of trespass, Ezra immediately presents the remedy—confession and separation. The people must respond to a clear, practical summons. The next verse records their agreement in a loud, unified voice, showing readiness to comply. Yet the assembly will then acknowledge the scale and conditions that make immediate execution impossible, prompting a plan for a structured, time-bound process that can touch every city and family involved.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
- 1 Corinthians 2:12
But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
- Jeremiah 3:13
Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against Jehovah thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith Jehovah.
- Ezra 10:3
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to 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.
- Isaiah 56:4
For thus saith Jehovah of the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant:
- Isaiah 1:16
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;