Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. New Living Translation Within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. This took place on December 19, and all the people were sitting in the square before the Temple of God. They were trembling both because of the seriousness of the matter and because it was raining. English Standard Version Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. Berean Standard Bible So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain. Berean Literal Bible And all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and because of the rains. King James Bible Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. New King James Version So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain. New American Standard Bible So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the public square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and the heavy rain. NASB 1995 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and the heavy rain. NASB 1977 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and the heavy rain. Legacy Standard Bible So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and the heavy rain. Amplified Bible So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the twentieth [day] of the ninth month, and all the people sat in the open square in front of the house of God, trembling because of [the seriousness of] this matter and because of the heavy rain. Berean Annotated Bible So within the three days, all the men of Judah (praised) and Benjamin (son of the right hand) assembled in Jerusalem (city of peace), and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God {Elohim}, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain. Christian Standard Bible So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. Holman Christian Standard Bible So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. American Standard Version Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days (it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month); and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. Contemporary English Version Three days later, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, everyone from Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem and sat in the temple courtyard. It was a serious meeting, and they sat there, trembling in the rain. English Revised Version Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered within three days in Jerusalem. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the courtyard of God's temple. They were trembling because of this matter and shivering because of the heavy rain. Good News Translation Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men living in the territory of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem and assembled in the Temple square. It was raining hard, and because of the weather and the importance of the meeting everyone was trembling. International Standard Version Less than three days later, all of the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered together on the twentieth day of the ninth month. Everyone sat in the plaza of the Temple of God, trembling because of everything that was happening, and also because it was raining heavily. NET Bible All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains. New Heart English Bible Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before God's house, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. Webster's Bible Translation Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, and the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain. World English Bible Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the wide place in front of God’s house, trembling because of this matter, and because of the great rain. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd all the men of Judah and Benjamin are gathered to Jerusalem by the third day, it [is] the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sit in the broad place of the house of God, trembling on account of the matter and of the showers. Berean Literal Bible And all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and because of the rains. Young's Literal Translation And gathered are all the men of Judah and Benjamin to Jerusalem by the third day, it is the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sit in the broad place of the house of God, trembling on account of the matter and of the showers. Smith's Literal Translation And all the men of Judah and Benjamin will gather together at Jerusalem in three days. It was the ninth month, in the twentieth in the month, and all the people will sit in the broad place of the house of God, trembling for the word, and from the heavy showers. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen all the men of Juda, and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days, in the ninth month, the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of the sin, and the rain. Catholic Public Domain Version And so, all the men of Judah and of Benjamin convened in Jerusalem within three days. This was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of the sin and the rain. New American Bible All the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered together in Jerusalem within the three-day period: it was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people, sitting in the open place before the house of God, were trembling both over the matter at hand and because it was raining. New Revised Standard Version Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the tenth day of the month; and all the people of the LORD assembled in the street of the temple of the LORD, trembling and shuddering because of this matter. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And all the men of Yehuda and Benjamin assembled to Jerusalem within three days in the ninth month on the tenth of the month, and all the people of LORD JEHOVAH gathered in the street of the temple of LORD JEHOVAH, shaking and fearful for the matter. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. Brenton Septuagint Translation So all the men of Juda and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. This was the ninth month: on the twentieth day of the month all the people sat down in the street of the house of the Lord, because of their alarm concerning the word, and because of the storm. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The People's Confession of Sin…8Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. 9So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.… Cross References So within the three days, Genesis 40:13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer. Genesis 40:19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.” Esther 4:16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!” all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 15:9 And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. 2 Chronicles 30:13 In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 2 Chronicles 11:12 He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him. and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, Haggai 2:10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, Haggai 2:18 Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully: Zechariah 7:1 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev. all the people sat in the square at the house of God, Nehemiah 8:1 At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. Nehemiah 8:3 So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. 2 Kings 23:2 And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. trembling regarding this matter Ezra 9:4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering. Isaiah 66:2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word. Psalm 119:120 My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments. and because of the heavy rain. Job 37:6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ Treasury of Scripture Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. Ezra 7:8,9 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king… Esther 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. trembling 1 Samuel 12:17,18 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king… Jeremiah 10:10,13 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation… great rain. Jump to Previous Benjamin Broad Gathered Great House Jerusalem Judah Matter Month Ninth Sat Street Themselves Three Together Trembling Twentieth WithinJump to Next Benjamin Broad Gathered Great House Jerusalem Judah Matter Month Ninth Sat Street Themselves Three Together Trembling Twentieth WithinEzra 10 1. Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages6. 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 So within the three days The urgency of the situation is highlighted by the three-day timeframe. This reflects the seriousness of the call to repentance and reform. The swift response indicates the people's recognition of the gravity of their sin and the need for immediate action. This urgency can be compared to other instances in Scripture where quick action was necessary, such as Jonah's call to Nineveh. all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem and on the twentieth day of the ninth month all the people sat in the square at the house of God trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain Persons / Places / Events 1. EzraA scribe and priest who led the second group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He was instrumental in the spiritual and religious reform of the Jewish people. 2. Judah and Benjamin The two tribes of Israel primarily involved in the return from Babylonian exile. They represent the remnant of the Southern Kingdom. 3. Jerusalem The central place of worship and the location of the Temple, which was the focal point of Jewish religious life. 4. The House of God Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, where significant religious and communal decisions were made. 5. The Assembly The gathering of the people of Judah and Benjamin in response to Ezra's call to address the issue of intermarriage with foreign women, which was against the Law of Moses. Teaching Points The Importance of Obedience to God's LawThe gathering in Ezra 10:9 highlights the necessity of aligning communal and personal lives with God's commandments. Disobedience leads to spiritual and communal consequences. The Role of Leadership in Spiritual Renewal Ezra's leadership was crucial in guiding the people back to faithfulness. Spiritual leaders today must also be committed to guiding their communities in truth and righteousness. The Power of Collective Repentance The assembly's trembling and repentance demonstrate the power of coming together as a community to seek forgiveness and realign with God's will. Facing Difficult Situations with Courage Despite the heavy rain and the difficult nature of the issue at hand, the people gathered. This teaches us to face challenging situations with determination and faith. The Significance of the Temple as a Place of Decision The Temple was not just a place of worship but also a place where important decisions were made. Our places of worship should similarly be centers of spiritual and communal decision-making. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezra 10:9?2. How does Ezra 10:9 emphasize the importance of communal repentance and accountability? 3. What role does leadership play in guiding repentance, as seen in Ezra 10:9? 4. How can we apply the urgency of Ezra 10:9 to modern church issues? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Ezra 10:9 and other calls for repentance? 6. How does the people's response in Ezra 10:9 inspire personal commitment to God's commands? 7. Why did the Israelites gather in Jerusalem in Ezra 10:9 despite the heavy rain? 8. How does Ezra 10:9 reflect the seriousness of sin and repentance? 9. What historical evidence supports the assembly described in Ezra 10:9? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezra 10? 11. Ezra 10:9 – Is it historically plausible that the entire population gathered in Jerusalem within three days as the text suggests? 12. Ezra 10:44 - How can a just God require separating from wives and children if some may have converted to the faith? 13. Why does 1 Chronicles 9:3 include tribes like Ephraim and Manasseh in Jerusalem, contradicting other passages indicating they didn't return? 14. Zechariah 10:6: Where is the historical proof of the promised restoration of both Judah and Joseph on a massive scale? What Does Ezra 10:9 Mean Within Three Days“So within the three days” (Ezra 10:9) • The command in verse 8 set a firm, three-day deadline for every returned exile to appear in Jerusalem. • Their prompt compliance shows reverence for God-given authority (cf. Exodus 19:10-15, where Israel also had three days to prepare to meet the LORD). • It underscores true repentance: sin had to be addressed immediately, not casually postponed (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11). All the Men of Judah and Benjamin Assembled in Jerusalem • These two tribes formed the core of the post-exilic community (Ezra 1:5; Nehemiah 11:4), the remnant through whom God would keep His covenant promises (Jeremiah 33:17-22). • By gathering “in Jerusalem,” the city God had chosen for His Name (1 Kings 11:36), they acknowledged His lordship and the centrality of Temple worship. • Their unity mirrors Psalm 133:1 and models corporate responsibility: individual sin affects the whole covenant people. On the Twentieth Day of the Ninth Month • The date (20 Kislev, late November/early December) places the scene in the cold, rainy season (Jeremiah 36:22). • Just ten days earlier, Haggai had urged national holiness on the 24th of the ninth month (Haggai 2:10-19); now Ezra confronts specific unholiness, showing God’s consistency in calling His people to purity. • Recording the exact day affirms the historical reliability of Scripture and invites us to see God acting in real time, not myth. All the People Sat in the Square at the House of God • Public space by the Temple made room for everyone, echoing later gatherings such as Nehemiah 8:1-3. • Sitting indicates readiness to listen to God’s Word and to Ezra’s leadership (cf. Luke 5:3, where crowds sat to hear Jesus). • Being “at the house of God” reminds them—and us—that sin is ultimately against a holy God (Psalm 51:4). Trembling Regarding This Matter • “This matter” is their unlawful intermarriage with pagan wives (Ezra 9:1-2; 10:2). • Their trembling shows genuine conviction (Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 119:120). God-centered fear is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and prepares hearts for obedience. • Unlike worldly anxiety, godly fear drives people toward, not away from, repentance and restoration (James 4:8-10). And Because of the Heavy Rain • The physical storm reinforces the spiritual storm: their bodies shiver in the downpour while their consciences shiver under conviction. • Rain, often a blessing (Deuteronomy 11:14), here becomes a backdrop for discipline, reminding them of the weight of sin (Job 37:6; Amos 4:7-13). • Despite discomfort, they remain, proving that wholehearted repentance refuses easy escape routes. summary Ezra 10:9 records a literal day when Judah’s remnant gathered quickly, united, and deeply convicted, braving cold rain to face their sin before God’s house. The verse highlights urgency, covenant identity, historical precision, public accountability, godly fear, and perseverance. Together these elements show that genuine repentance involves immediate obedience, communal responsibility, reverent trembling, and steadfast endurance—principles still vital for God’s people today. Verse 9. - All the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem. This is of course to be understood with certain necessary or natural exceptions, as of the sick, the aged and infirm, and the youths under full age. Still it would be a vast gathering, doubling probably for the time the population of the city. It was the ninth month. The month Chisleu, corresponding nearly to our December. All the people sat in the street of the house of God. The word translated "street" means any broad open space, and is probably used here to designate the great court of the temple (Patrick). By "all the people" we must understand as many as the court would conveniently hold. If the court had the dimensions given it by Hecataeus of Abdera, it may have accommodated the whole body of the country Jews. The great rain. December is a rainy month in Palestine; and the incidental mention of "the great rain" is one of those small touches which stamp the writer as an eyewitness. ADDRESS OF EZRA, AND CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE TO PUT AWAY THE STRANGE WIVES (vers. 10- 14). Hitherto Ezra seems to have allowed the leading part in the matter to be taken by the civil authorities, whom he had found established in Jerusalem on his arrival (Ezra 9:1-8). Now he came forward boldly, denouncing the sin committed, and as supreme governor commanding the repudiation of the strange wives. The assembled multitude consented, but urged that the matter required time; that the season was unsuitable for a prolonged stay of the whole body of country Jews at Jerusalem, and that the business would be most conveniently carried through by a standing commission consisting of the chief authorities of the city of Jerusalem, who should take the case of each country town separately, and, in conjunction with the elders and judges of each town, investigate the alleged mixed marriages of each locality, and adjudicate upon them. By this arrangement the bulk of the country Jews would be allowed at once to return home; and the case of each locality being taken separately, only a small number would at any given time be suffering the inconvenience of a compulsory absence from their residences, and the expense of a stay of some duration in the capital. The proposal was reasonable, and it appears to have approved itself to Ezra and his advisers, and to have been at once adopted.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So within the threeלִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (liš·lō·šeṯ) Preposition-l | Number - masculine singular construct Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice days, הַיָּמִ֗ים (hay·yā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day all כָל־ (ḵāl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the men אַנְשֵֽׁי־ (’an·šê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person of Judah יְהוּדָה֩ (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites and Benjamin וּבִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ (ū·ḇin·yā·min) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites assembled וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (way·yiq·qā·ḇə·ṣū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6908: To gather, collect in Jerusalem, יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (yə·rū·šā·lim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel and on the twentieth day בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים (bə·‘eś·rîm) Preposition-b | Number - common plural Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth of the ninth הַתְּשִׁיעִ֖י (hat·tə·šî·‘î) Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular Strong's 8671: Ninth (an ordinal number) month, חֹ֥דֶשׁ (ḥō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month all כָל־ (ḵāl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the people הָעָ֗ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock sat וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ (way·yê·šə·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry in the square בִּרְחוֹב֙ (bir·ḥō·wḇ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 7339: A broad open place, plaza at the house בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of God, הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative trembling מַרְעִידִ֥ים (mar·‘î·ḏîm) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7460: To tremble, quake regarding עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against this matter הַדָּבָ֖ר (had·dā·ḇār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause and because of the heavy rain. וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִֽים׃ (ū·mê·hag·gə·šā·mîm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1653: Rain, shower Links Ezra 10:9 NIVEzra 10:9 NLT Ezra 10:9 ESV Ezra 10:9 NASB Ezra 10:9 KJV Ezra 10:9 BibleApps.com Ezra 10:9 Biblia Paralela Ezra 10:9 Chinese Bible Ezra 10:9 French Bible Ezra 10:9 Catholic Bible OT History: Ezra 10:9 Then all the men of Judah (Ezr. 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