Ezra 9:14
What does Ezra 9:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 9:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 9:14 means
Ezra asks whether they will repeat the same sin by aligning themselves with peoples who practice abominations. He fears the result: God’s anger could burn until He consumed them, leaving no remnant or survivor. The stakes could not be higher; the very existence of the restored community is threatened by their compromise. This is not a loss of temper on God’s part but a righteous response to persistent, high-handed disobedience. Ezra’s question aims to shock the conscience: if mercy has spared us, do we now provoke wrath by returning to the same snare? It is an urgent call to break with the sin completely.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Should we 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?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Are we again to go against your orders, taking wives from among the people who do these disgusting things? would you not be angry with us till our destruction was complete, till there was not one who got away safe?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862do we turn back to break Thy commands, and to join ourselves in marriage with the people of these abominations? art not Thou angry against us--even to consumption--till there is no remnant and escaped part?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752That we should not turn away, nor break thy commandments, nor join in marriage with the people of these abominations. Art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to be saved?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples of these abominations? wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor any to escape?
Context
On the heels of verse 13’s reminder of mercy, verse 14 presses the danger of backsliding. The idea of losing the remnant connects back to verses 8–9 and forward to verse 15’s sober conclusion. The prayer reaches its peak of warning here, preparing for Ezra’s final appeal to God’s righteousness and the people’s utter lack of defense. The flow is from diagnosis to consequence, urging immediate repentance to avert irreversible loss.
v.13And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,
v.14This passage
v.15O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before thee because of this.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 9:14
let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
- Judges 2:2
and ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this?
- Exodus 32:10
now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
- 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.
- Exodus 23:32
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
- Nehemiah 13:23
In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof Moab: