Definition: And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezra 10:10. It’s a really important part of understanding how the Israelites were dealing with a serious problem in their history. Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Situation: Imagine Israel was growing into a big kingdom – a community – and they had people who were married to people outside of their family and community. This is called “strange wives.” It’s a really serious issue because it goes against the rules set by God for how families should be. What Ezra Says: Ezra, as a priest, was speaking to the people in this situation. He's saying: "You have broken the rules! You’ve done something wrong – you’ve married people who aren’t your own family members." The Core of the Message: Transgressed: This means they broke a law or rule. Taken Strange Wife: This is the key part. It means they were involved in relationships with people who weren't their own blood relatives – they were married to people from outside of their community. Why is this a problem? God commanded that families should be built within the community. This practice was seen as a way to weaken the bonds between people and disrupt the order and peace of Israel. It’s considered a major transgression against God's will. In short, Ezra is pointing out a significant mistake – they were engaging in relationships that violated God’s rules and weakened the foundation of their community. Important Note: This verse is part of a larger story about a time when Israel was facing challenges after leaving Egypt. It highlights the importance of following God's laws and maintaining order within the community. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss what this verse might mean in terms of its historical context? Talk about how this story relates to other biblical stories?