Ezra 10:13 Meaning and Explanation
“But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people note that the crowd is large, the rain heavy, and the matter too widespread to settle in a day or two.
What Does Ezra 10:13 Mean?
The congregation accepts the task but speaks honestly about its scale. They are many; the winter rain makes standing in the open impossible for long; and the cases are too numerous to resolve in a day or two. This is not a refusal but a practical recognition that so widespread a sin will take careful, orderly time to address. Their candid admission, we are many that have transgressed, is itself a further owning of guilt.
Here is wisdom joined to repentance: a willingness to obey paired with realism about how obedience must be carried out. Zeal without order can do harm; the people ask for a process that will treat each case rightly. Even good intentions need patience and structure to bear good fruit. God is not honored by haste that tramples justice; He is honored when His people pursue what is right thoroughly and fairly, taking the time that faithfulness requires.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 10:13
What does Ezra 10:13 mean?
The people note that the crowd is large, the rain heavy, and the matter too widespread to settle in a day or two.