Ezra 10:5 (WEB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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

Ezra 10:4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.”

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

Ezra 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before God’s house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. When he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity.

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ezra", "arose", "chiefs", "priests", "levites", "israel", "swear", and "word". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ezra" and "arose", 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 belongs to you..." into verse 6's "Then Ezra rose up from before God...", so "ezra" and "arose" 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 "ezra" and "arose" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.