Ezra 10:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They propose that local cases be heard at set times before city elders and judges until God's anger is turned away.
What Does Ezra 10:14 Mean?
The people offer an orderly plan. Rather than handle every case at once in the rain, let the rulers oversee the matter while those involved come at appointed times, each accompanied by the elders and judges of their own city. The process is to continue until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us. Justice is to be done case by case, locally and carefully.
The phrase about turning away God's fierce wrath shows what the people understood to be at stake: their sin had placed them under divine displeasure, and only sincere repentance could restore them. They did not treat the danger lightly. Yet the very fact that they sought to turn His anger away reveals their confidence that He could be entreated. Scripture everywhere holds these together: God's holiness, which sin offends, and God's mercy, which welcomes the returning. The people lean on the second as they address the first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 10:14
What does Ezra 10:14 mean?
They propose that local cases be heard at set times before city elders and judges until God's anger is turned away.