Ezra 10:11
Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse connects making "confession" with doing God's "pleasure." This isn't just about admitting wrongdoing; it's about aligning your actions with God's will as a demonstration of true repentance and trust. The act of confessing, in this context, is also a form of thanksgiving, acknowledging God's sovereignty and goodness even in the face of painful obedience.
The people of Israel have just confessed to Ezra their grave sin of marrying foreign women, a transgression that threatened their covenant relationship with God. Following Ezra's tearful grief and a solemn assembly, the leaders decree a bold, sweeping action: they must publicly acknowledge their sin to God and immediately send away both their foreign wives and separate themselves from the surrounding peoples. This decisive step, though painful, is seen as the only path to obedience and a renewed standing with God.
The verse calls for confession, but the original word has a twist! What does it mean to 'confess' through 'thanksgiving'?
The Hebrew word used here, closely related to the root for 'confession,' actually carries a meaning of 'thanksgiving' or 'praise.' This isn't about simply listing sins; it's about acknowledging God's faithfulness and sovereignty, even in the midst of sin and its consequences. True confession springs from recognizing who God is – the God of your fathers, faithful and just – and trusting in His mercy. It’s praising Him by admitting your wrong and committing to His ways.
Think of it this way: when you confess something serious, you're also implicitly praising God for providing a way through it, for His patience, and for the hope of restoration you have in Him. It's an act of trusting His character more than your own actions.
You've 'pleased yourselves,' the verse says. What does it truly mean to shift your focus to 'doing His pleasure'?
This is a powerful call to action following the confession. The people had, in their marriages, followed their own desires and inclinations, which led them away from God's commands. Now, Ezra instructs them to actively 'do his pleasure.' This isn't passive agreement; it's about aligning their will with God's will.
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'Doing His pleasure' means choosing obedience over personal comfort or societal norms when they conflict with God's Word. It’s about demonstrating the sincerity of their repentance not just in words, but in decisive actions. This obedience is the tangible proof of their renewed commitment to the covenant relationship they have with God.
The command to 'separate yourselves' is stark. Why was this radical step essential for the people of God?
The instruction to 'separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives' was critical for the preservation of Israel's unique identity and covenant faithfulness. These foreign marriages weren't just personal choices; they represented a dangerous cultural and religious assimilation that threatened to dilute their commitment to Yahweh.
Separation was necessary to:
This wasn't about hatred, but about a holy distinction necessary for spiritual survival and faithfulness.
Understand the original words
yadah · Hebrew Verb
To acknowledge or confess sin, literally meaning to throw or cast forth, indicating an outward expression of an inward reality of guilt before God.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant-making, personal name of God, revealed to Israel, emphasizing His faithfulness and eternal nature.
ratson · Hebrew Noun
To act in accordance with God's revealed law or desire; to perform the pleasure or purpose of God.
badal · Hebrew Verb
To set apart for a holy purpose, or to withdraw from profane or defiling associations to maintain covenant purity.
am ha-aretz · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the surrounding pagan nations whose religious practices, idols, and social structures were considered a corrupting influence on the holiness of Israel.
The command in Ezra 10:11 to separate from foreign wives and peoples is deeply rooted in the trauma of the Babylonian Exile and the subsequent efforts to preserve Israel's distinct identity and covenant faithfulness in a post-exilic world.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Kingdom of Judah falls to the Babylonian Empire, and many of its citizens are exiled to Babylon. This event marked a dramatic turning point, scattering the Judean population and raising questions about their identity and future.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, conquers Babylon. This paved the way for the return of exiled peoples to their homelands, including the Judeans.
538 BC
First Return of Exiles to Jerusalem
Under the decree of Cyrus, a significant group of Judeans, led by Zerubbabel, returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. This marked a partial restoration of Jewish life in their ancestral land.
c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe and priest, leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He is deeply troubled by the spiritual and social state of the community, particularly the intermarriage with surrounding peoples.
c. 458 BC
Ezra Confronts Intermarriage
Upon learning of the widespread practice of marrying foreign women, Ezra is devastated. He calls for a public confession and a radical separation from these unions, which he sees as a threat to the people's covenant relationship with God.
This passage directly warns against intermarrying with the surrounding nations, echoing the core issue Ezra is addressing and establishing the historical basis for the prohibition.
Nehemiah 13:23-27This passage from a later period shows a similar struggle with foreign wives and demonstrates the ongoing challenge of maintaining ethnic and religious purity, highlighting the long-term consequences of the actions taken in Ezra's time.
Joshua 7:19This verse, referencing Achan's sin, also uses the phrase 'give glory to the Lord and make confession,' linking the act of confessing sin to honoring God, even in the context of disobedience.
Jeremiah 30:19The prophet Jeremiah foretold a time when 'thanksgiving' and the sound of joy would be heard from God's people, connecting repentance and restoration with expressions of praise to God, similar to the 'giving thanks' aspect of confession mentioned in Ezra.
Psalm 51:17This psalm, a profound expression of repentance, declares that 'the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise,' underscoring the inward attitude of confession and obedience that God truly desires.
pulpitEzra 10:11: "Now 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."
Verse 11. - Make confession. This is undoubtedly the true meaning of t'nu thodah in this place, and not "give praise" (δότε αἴνεσιν), as the LXX. render. Separate yourselves from the people of the land. The marriages naturally led on to familiar intercourse with the relatives and friends of the women, and so tended t…
clarkeEzra 10:11: "Now 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."
Make confession - Acknowledge your sins before God, with deep compunction of heart, and the fullest resolution to forsake them.
The verse connects making "confession" with doing God's "pleasure." This isn't just about admitting wrongdoing; it's about aligning your actions with God's will as a demonstration of true repentance and trust. The act of confessing, in this context, is also a form of thanksgiving, acknowledging God's sovereignty and goodness even in the face of painful obedience.
The people of Israel have just confessed to Ezra their grave sin of marrying foreign women, a transgression that threatened their covenant relationship with God. Following Ezra's tearful grief and a solemn assembly, the leaders decree a bold, sweeping action: they must publicly acknowledge their sin to God and immediately send away both their foreign wives and separate themselves from the surrounding peoples. This decisive step, though painful, is seen as the only path to obedience and a renewed standing with God.
The people of Israel have just confessed to Ezra their grave sin of marrying foreign women, a transgression that threatened their covenant relationship with God. Following Ezra's tearful grief and a solemn assembly, the leaders decree a bold, sweeping action: they must publicly acknowledge their sin to God and immediately send away both their foreign wives and separate themselves from the surrounding peoples. This decisive step, though painful, is seen as the only path to obedience and a renewed standing with God.
"Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”" — The verse connects making "confession" with doing God's "pleasure." This isn't just about admitting wrongdoing; it's about aligning your actions with God's will as a demonstration of true repentance…
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