Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezra didn't just tell them what to do; he made the leaders of the priests, Levites, and all of Israel take a solemn oath. This wasn't just a suggestion, but a binding commitment to follow through with the difficult decision to separate from their foreign wives, ensuring accountability for this significant act of repentance.
Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a confession of national sin and widespread weeping, Ezra convenes the leaders of the priests, Levites, and all Israel. He then makes them swear to follow through with Shechaniah's proposal to send away the foreign wives and children. This solemn oath is taken by all present, solidifying their commitment to the difficult task of reform.
When national sin is exposed, what happens next can define a community's future. Ezra didn't just lament; he acted decisively.
Ezra, moved by the people's confession and repentance, didn't let the moment pass. He 'arose' – a powerful image of stepping forward from a position of grief and prayer (as described in the preceding verses) into leadership. He immediately sought to formalize their commitment. This wasn't just about a shared feeling of sorrow; it was about a tangible, binding agreement. The leaders (priests, Levites, and the 'princes' or chiefs of Israel) were made to take an oath.
Repentance can be emotional, but what makes it truly transformative? It's when we bind ourselves to follow through.
The oath administered by Ezra served a critical purpose: it transformed a moment of deep sorrow and confession into a solemn vow. An oath is not merely a promise; it's a sacred commitment invoking God as a witness and guarantor. This oath ensured that the people's desire to 'do according to this word' – Shechaniah's proposal to dismiss the foreign wives – would be acted upon. It was a way to solidify their resolve and prevent them from backing away from the difficult but necessary steps of reform.
True change ripples outward, starting with the leaders. Ezra ensured accountability from the top down.
Ezra's strategy was smart: he first secured the commitment of the 'chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel' – essentially the leadership across all segments of the community. By binding these influential figures to the oath, he created a framework for accountability. When the leaders were committed, the rest of the people were more likely to follow. This demonstrates that effective community reform often hinges on the willing participation and public commitment of those in positions of influence.
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Understand the original words
shebu'ah · Hebrew Noun
A serious, solemn promise to perform an act or to speak the truth, often invoking God as a witness to the commitment made.
Ezra's decisive action to administer an oath underscores the gravity of the intermarriage issue, framing it not just as a personal failing but as a covenantal breach requiring communal commitment to rectify.
c. 538 BC
First Return from Exile
Following Cyrus the Great's decree, a large group of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. This marked the initial stage of the restoration of the Jewish community and their religious life in their homeland.
c. 515 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, the Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt and dedicated. This event was a significant milestone, restoring a central place for worship and sacrifice.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Arrival in Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe and priest learned in the Law of God, led a second major group of exiles from Babylon back to Judah. He came with a commission from the Persian king to organize the community according to God's law.
c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra Confronts Intermarriage
Upon learning that many returned exiles had married foreign women, violating Mosaic Law, Ezra was deeply distressed. He saw this practice as a major threat to the spiritual and national identity of the restored community.
c. 458 BC
Covenant and Oath to Reform
Following Ezra's confrontation and the people's confession of guilt, a solemn covenant was made. Ezra led the assembly in taking a binding oath to put away their foreign wives and any children born from these unions, initiating a major social and religious reform.
This passage echoes the command for courage and strength, which is essential for leaders like Ezra who are undertaking a difficult task of reform. The act of taking an oath implies a commitment to be strong and courageous in following God's word.
Deuteronomy 29:10-13This passage highlights the purpose of entering into a covenant before God to stand with Him as His people. Ezra's oath-taking with all Israel solidifies their commitment to God's covenant by addressing a sin that had broken it.
Nehemiah 9:38This passage describes the people of Israel entering into a covenant and writing it down, with their princes, Levites, and priests sealing it. Ezra's action in Ezra 10:5 mirrors this by having the leaders and all Israel take an oath to uphold the covenant of separation from foreign influences.
1 Kings 21:27-29This shows King Ahab humbling himself and fasting after confronting his sin. While Ahab's repentance was superficial, it illustrates the practice of fasting and humbling oneself in the face of sin, a practice Ezra himself engaged in shortly after the oath (Ezra 10:6).
pulpitEzra 10:5: "Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware."
Verse 5. - Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests... to swear. Rather, "made the princes, the priests, etc. to swear" LXX.). That they would do according to this word. That they would act in the matter as Shechaniah had recommended, and put away the idolatrous wives. EZRA'S FAST (ver. 6). Matters having reached this point, the covenant…
clarkeEzra 10:5: "Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware."
And they sware - The thing was evidently contrary to the law of God; and now he bound them by an oath to rectify the abuse.
Ezra didn't just tell them what to do; he made the leaders of the priests, Levites, and all of Israel take a solemn oath. This wasn't just a suggestion, but a binding commitment to follow through with the difficult decision to separate from their foreign wives, ensuring accountability for this significant act of repentance.
Following a confession of national sin and widespread weeping, Ezra convenes the leaders of the priests, Levites, and all Israel. He then makes them swear to follow through with Shechaniah's proposal to send away the foreign wives and children. This solemn oath is taken by all present, solidifying their commitment to the difficult task of reform.
Following a confession of national sin and widespread weeping, Ezra convenes the leaders of the priests, Levites, and all Israel. He then makes them swear to follow through with Shechaniah's proposal to send away the foreign wives and children. This solemn oath is taken by all present, solidifying their commitment to the difficult task of reform.
"Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath." — Ezra didn't just tell them what to do; he made the leaders of the priests, Levites, and all of Israel take a solemn oath. This wasn't just a suggestion, but a binding commitment to follow through wit…
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Last reviewed October 2026