Ezra 10:5 (ASV)

Passage

Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.

Nearby Context

Ezra 10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

Ezra 10:4 Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

Ezra 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.

Ezra 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.

Ezra 10:7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "arose", "ezra", "chiefs", "priests", "levites", "israel", "swear", and "word". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "arose" and "ezra", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Arise for the matter belongeth unto thee..." into verse 6's "Then Ezra rose up from before the...", so "arose" and "ezra" belong inside that flow. In Ezra context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "arose" and "ezra" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.