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Use lexicons and Bible dictionaries to dig into the Hebrew words for “trespass,” “transgression,” and “iniquity” in Ezra 9:2, 4, and 6 to learn their own nuanced versions of sin and how it applies to this overall passage.
Read Ezra 9:4-5 alongside Exodus 29:38-46 and John 1:29. How does the truth of one give clearer insight into the others?
Read Ezra 10:1-2 alongside Psalm 130. How does the truth of one give clearer insight into the other?
Hold the Old Testament’s marriage law (as detailed in Ezra 9 and 10) against Paul’s 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 marriage principles under Jesus’ new covenant of grace. How does the standard of holiness flip between the Old and New Testaments?
Read 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 in light of Ezra 9:1-4. How does one help explain the other?
Read through the chapter slowly, noting the verses, words, or phrases that catch your attention or stir your spirit. Lean into them to see what the Spirit of God wants to show you.
There’s an eye-opening and dream-sobering lesson here about Ezra’s desire to know and teach God’s Word and the actual level of real-life responsibility that comes along with it.
Remember: God includes lists of names in Scripture for a reason. Slow down your reading and tally the number of people who returned with Ezra in Ezra 8:1-20.
Take note of any repeated words or phrases in this chapter. Circle them and look at how they highlight a key theme of the passage.
Do some research and look into the differences between the titles attributed to Ezra in verse 11.
Don’t neglect those biblical definitions. Note the words that pull at you as you read and dig into them as you study.
Ezra 7 is another notable chapter detailing God’s continued favor on and provision for His people in the eyes of the king.
