Ezra 10:2
New International Version
Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.

New Living Translation
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel.

English Standard Version
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.

King James Bible
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

New King James Version
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.

New American Standard Bible
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

NASB 1995
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

NASB 1977
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

Amplified Bible
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this.

American Standard Version
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

Contemporary English Version
Shecaniah son of Jehiel from the family of Elam said: Ezra, we have disobeyed God by marrying these foreign women. But there is still hope for the people of Israel,

English Revised Version
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married strange women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, interrupted by saying to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women who came from the people around us. However, there is still hope for Israel.

Good News Translation
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the clan of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have broken faith with God by marrying foreign women, but even so there is still hope for Israel.

International Standard Version
Jehiel's son Shecaniah, one of Elam's descendants, responded to Ezra: "We have sinned against our God by marrying foreign wives from the people of the land, but even now there is hope in Israel, despite this.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.

NET Bible
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples. Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.

New Heart English Bible
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken foreign wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

World English Bible
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Shechaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answers and says to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and we settle strange women of the peoples of the land; and now there is hope for Israel concerning this,

Young's Literal Translation
And Shechaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answereth and saith to Ezra, 'We -- we have trespassed against our God, and we settle strange women of the peoples of the land; and now there is hope for Israel concerning this,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the sons of Elam, will answer and say to Ezra, We transgressed against our God, and we were dwelling with strange wives from the people of the land: and now there is hope to Israel concerning this.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Sechenias the son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam answered, and said to Esdras: We have sinned against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: and now if there be repentance in Israel concerning this,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, from the sons of Elam, responded and said to Ezra: “We have sinned against our God, and have taken foreign wives from the peoples of the land. And now, if there is repentance within Israel over this,

New American Bible
Then Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, made this appeal to Ezra: “We have indeed betrayed our God by taking as wives foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet in spite of this there still remains a hope for Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra, saying, “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Shechaniah the son of Nehael, one of the descendants of Elam, answered and said to Ezra the scribe, We have transgressed against our God, and have taken foreign wives of the people of the land; now is there any hope for Israel concerning this thing?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shekania, son of Nekhayel of the children of Ilam, answered and said to Azra the Scribe: “We have been unfaithful with LORD JEHOVAH our God, and we married foreign women of the Gentiles of the Earth! Now there is hope for Israel because of this!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra: 'We have broken faith with our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Sechenias the son of Jeel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Esdras, We have broken covenant with our God, and have taken strange wives of the nations of the land: yet now there is patience of hope to Israel concerning this thing.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Shecaniah's Encouragement
1While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well. 2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel. 3So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 9:2
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 30:9
For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

1 Kings 11:1-2
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.

Malachi 2:11
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...

Deuteronomy 31:29
For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”

Nehemiah 13:23-27
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. / Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. / I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! ...

Joshua 23:12-13
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. / And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

Judges 3:5-6
Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

1 Corinthians 7:12-14
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. / And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. / For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Exodus 34:15-16
Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.

2 Kings 17:33-34
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


Treasury of Scripture

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

Shechaniah

Ezra 10:26
And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

Nehemiah 3:29
After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

Elam

Ezra 2:7,31
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four…

Nehemiah 7:12,34
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four…

Compare

James 2:9
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Exodus 34:12
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

Nehemiah 13:27
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

yet now there is hope

Exodus 34:6,7
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, …

Isaiah 55:6,7
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: …

Jeremiah 3:12,13
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever…

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Broken Elam Ezra Faith Foreign Hope Israel Jehiel Married Peoples Shecaniah Shechaniah Strange Trespassed Women
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Broken Elam Ezra Faith Foreign Hope Israel Jehiel Married Peoples Shecaniah Shechaniah Strange Trespassed Women
Ezra 10
1. Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages
6. Ezra assembles the people
9. The people repent, and promise amendment
15. The care to perform it
18. The names of them which had married strange wives














Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel
The mention of "Shecaniah son of Jehiel" introduces us to a figure who steps forward with a confession. The name "Shecaniah" means "the Lord has dwelt," which is significant in this context as it suggests a divine presence or intervention. "Jehiel" means "God lives," reinforcing the idea of a living, active God involved in the affairs of His people. This introduction sets the stage for a pivotal moment of repentance and renewal among the Israelites.

one of the descendants of Elam
"Elam" was one of the sons of Shem, and his descendants are mentioned throughout the Bible. The reference to "Elam" here connects Shecaniah to a broader historical and genealogical context, emphasizing the continuity of God's people and their covenantal history. It also highlights the communal aspect of sin and repentance, as Shecaniah speaks not just for himself but as a representative of his lineage.

said to Ezra
"Ezra" is a central figure in this narrative, a scribe and priest who led the return of the exiles from Babylon. His role as a spiritual leader is crucial, as he is the one to whom the confession is made. This highlights the importance of godly leadership in guiding the people back to faithfulness. Ezra's presence signifies the restoration of the Law and the re-establishment of proper worship.

We have been unfaithful to our God
The phrase "We have been unfaithful" is a direct acknowledgment of sin, specifically the sin of intermarriage with foreign women, which was against God's commandments (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The Hebrew root for "unfaithful" conveys a breach of trust or betrayal, underscoring the gravity of their actions. This confession is a crucial step in the process of repentance and reconciliation with God.

by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land
The act of "marrying foreign women" was not merely a social issue but a spiritual one, as it often led to idolatry and a turning away from God. The "peoples of the land" refers to the surrounding nations who did not worship Yahweh. This phrase highlights the tension between maintaining a distinct identity as God's chosen people and the temptation to assimilate into the surrounding culture.

Yet now there is hope for Israel
The word "hope" is a powerful declaration of faith in God's mercy and willingness to forgive. Despite their unfaithfulness, Shecaniah recognizes that God offers a path to redemption. This hope is not based on their merit but on God's covenantal promises and His steadfast love for Israel. It serves as an encouragement for the people to take action and return to God.

in spite of this
The phrase "in spite of this" acknowledges the seriousness of their sin but also emphasizes God's grace. It suggests that no matter how grave the transgression, God's willingness to restore His people remains. This is a profound reminder of the transformative power of repentance and the boundless nature of divine forgiveness. It calls believers to trust in God's ability to bring about renewal and restoration, even in the face of failure.

Verse 2. - Jehiel. Probably the "Jehiel" mentioned again in ver. 26, who was "of the sons of Elam," and had married an idolatrous wife. Yet now there is hope. The penitence of the people, evidenced by their "sore weeping, gave hope that they might be brought to amend their ways and return to God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Shecaniah
שְׁכַנְיָ֨ה (šə·ḵan·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7935: Shecaniah -- 'Yah has taken up His abode', the name of several Israelites

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Jehiel,
יְחִיאֵ֜ל (yə·ḥî·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3171: Jehiel -- 'may God live', the name of a number of Israelites

an Elamite,
מִבְּנֵ֤י (mib·bə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

said
וַיַּעַן֩ (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

to Ezra:
לְעֶזְרָ֔א (lə·‘ez·rā)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5830: Ezra -- 'help', three Israelites

“We
אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ (’ă·naḥ·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

have been unfaithful
מָעַ֣לְנוּ (mā·‘al·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4603: To cover up, to act covertly, treacherously

to our God
בֵאלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (ḇê·lō·hê·nū)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

by marrying
וַנֹּ֛שֶׁב (wan·nō·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

foreign
נָכְרִיּ֖וֹת (nā·ḵə·rî·yō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

women
נָשִׁ֥ים (nā·šîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

from the people
מֵעַמֵּ֣י (mê·‘am·mê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

of the land,
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

yet
וְעַתָּ֛ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

in spite of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

this,
זֹֽאת׃ (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

there is
יֵשׁ־ (yêš-)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

hope
מִקְוֶ֥ה (miq·weh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4723: Something waited for, confidence, a collection, a pond, a caravan, drove

for Israel.
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (lə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: Ezra 10:2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel one (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 10:1
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