Ezra 10:2
What does Ezra 10:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 10:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 10:2 means
Shecaniah, recognizing the gravity of the situation, openly admits the community’s trespass against God in marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. His words show clear ownership of guilt: not cultural preference but covenant disloyalty is the issue. Yet he also declares that hope remains for Israel. Confession does not end in despair but opens a door for restoration. Hope rests not on minimizing the sin, but on God’s mercy and the possibility of real repentance. Shecaniah’s balanced voice—honest about sin and confident in God’s help—guides the assembly away from paralysis and toward faithful action.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Shechaniah 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answering, said to Ezra, We have done evil against our God, and have taken as our wives strange women of the peoples of the land: but still there is hope for Israel in this question.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Shechaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answereth and saith to Ezra, `We--we have trespassed against our God, and we settle strange women of the peoples of the land; and now there is hope for Israel concerning this,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Sechenias the son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam answered, and said to Esdras: We have sinned against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: and now if there be repentance in Israel concerning this,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have acted unfaithfully toward ourGod, and have taken foreign wives of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.
Context
In response to Ezra’s weeping and the people’s shared sorrow, a representative steps forward to articulate both the problem and the possibility of renewal. This verse bridges lament to solution. It confirms the sin at hand and introduces the theme of hope that will drive the plan that follows. Immediately next, Shecaniah proposes a covenant-bound remedy designed to address the widespread marriages contrary to God’s command, ensuring that the community’s renewed obedience is not merely emotional but enacted in concrete steps.
v.1Now 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.
v.2This passage
v.3Now 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 2:31
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
- Ezra 9:2
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
- Nehemiah 3:29
After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his own house. And after him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
- Nehemiah 7:34
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
- Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:
- Exodus 34:12
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: