Limitless Word
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
Ezra 10:4 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.”
  • BSB Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”
  • NKJV Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”
  • NASB Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.”
  • NLT Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Shecaniah urged Ezra to take the lead, pledging the people's support and calling him to courageous action. The community looked to its leader to direct their repentance.

Overview

Recognizing that resolve must become action, Shecaniah charged Ezra to arise and lead, promising solidarity. The call to 'be courageous and do it' acknowledged that obedience would be costly and difficult. Such encouragement to bold, faithful leadership echoes throughout Scripture, where God strengthens those who undertake hard obedience for His sake (Joshua 1:9).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • 1 Chr 28:10Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
  • Eccl 9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
  • Heb 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
  • 1 Chr 22:19Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.
  • Heb 12:12–13Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
  • Isa 35:3–4Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
  • 1 Chr 22:16Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
  • Ezra 7:23–28Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
  • 1 Chr 28:21And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
  • Josh 7:10–26And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
  • Mark 13:34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
  • Josh 1:16–18And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezra videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezra 10:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzraMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The return from exile and the rebuilt altar keep alive the hope of a greater restoration — the true return from our deeper exile of sin accomplished by Christ.

How Ezra 10:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.