Ezra 9:2
What does Ezra 9:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 9:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 9:2 means
The charge becomes specific: intermarriage. By marrying daughters from the surrounding peoples, the community endangered its identity as the “holy seed”—a phrase stressing God’s set-apart people. Marriage is intimate and formative; it often shapes worship, loyalties, and the next generation. The worst part is that the leaders—princes and rulers—were foremost in the offense. When those tasked with guarding the covenant lead in compromising it, the failure ripples through the nation. This was not a minor misstep but a direct trespass against commands designed to protect Israel from idolatry and to keep the people centered on Jehovah’s covenant.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For they have taken their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the peoples of the lands; and in fact the captains and rulers have been the first to do this evil.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for they have taken of their daughters to them, and to their sons, and the holy seed have mingled themselves among the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the heads and of the seconds have been first in this trespass.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and have mingled the holy seed with the peoples of the lands; and the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this unfaithfulness.
Context
Verse 2 highlights the specific sin reported in verse 1 and intensifies its gravity: the leaders are implicated. This development sets up Ezra’s dramatic reaction in verse 3 and the assembling of the faithful in verse 4. The phrase “holy seed” introduces the theological concern driving the chapter—preserving covenant holiness for present and future generations. The narrative will move from this indictment to Ezra’s grief, then to confession and appeal to God’s mercy, showing how leadership failure demands corporate repentance.
v.1Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
v.2This passage
v.3And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14
Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
- Isaiah 6:13
And if there be yet a tenth in it, it also shall in turn be eaten up: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they are felled; so the holy seed is the stock thereof.
- Nehemiah 13:3
And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
- Malachi 2:15
And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
- Exodus 34:16
and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters play the harlot after their gods, and make thy sons play the harlot after their gods.
- Nehemiah 13:23
In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof Moab: