19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
19 (They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.)
19 They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.
19 They all promised to divorce their wives and sealed it with a handshake. For their guilt they brought a ram from the flock as a Compensation-Offering.
19 And they gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.
19 They vowed to divorce their wives, and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt offering.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 10:19
Commentary on Ezra 10:15-44
(Read Ezra 10:15-44)
The best reformers can but do their endeavour; when the Redeemer himself shall come to Zion, he shall effectually turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And when sin is repented of and forsaken, God will forgive it; but the blood of Christ, our Sin-offering, is the only atonement which takes away our guilt. No seeming repentance or amendment will benefit those who reject Him, for self-dependence proves them still unhumbled. All the names written in the book of life, are those of penitent sinners, not of self-righteous persons, who think they have no need of repentance.