Old Testament
The Book of Ezra
The Book of Ezra is the fifteenth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 10 chapters and 280 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 1 Esdras.
About Ezra
About Ezra · Restoration history
Ezra recounts the return from Babylon: the rebuilt altar and temple, and then the arrival of Ezra the priest-scribe to re-teach a half-assimilated community the law of Moses. The book draws on official documents and Ezra's own memoirs, though its final compiler is unknown. It was written to show that the exile's true ending was not political but spiritual — a people gathered again around Scripture and worship. Its harder passages about separation reflect a small community's desperate fight to keep its identity alive.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 15 of 46, 15 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 10 |
| Verses | 280, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | 1 Esdras |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 10 chapters · 6 notes |
| Catechism | 1 paragraph cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 10 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Ezra 1
11 versesCyrus king of Persia releaseth God's people from their captivity, with license to return and build the temple in Jerusalem: and restoreth the holy vessels which Nabuchodonosor had taken from thence.
Ezra 2
70 versesThe number of them that returned to Judea: their oblations.
Ezra 3
13 versesAn altar is built for sacrifice, the feast of tabernacles is solemnly celebrated, and the foundations of the temple are laid.
Ezra 4
24 versesThe Samaritans by their letter to the king hinder the building.
Ezra 5
17 versesBy the exhortation of Aggeus, and Zacharias, the people proceed in building the temple. Which their enemies strive in vain to hinder.
Ezra 6
22 versesKing Darius favoureth the building and contributeth to it.
Ezra 7
28 versesEsdras goeth up to Jerusalem to teach, and assist the people, with a gracious decree of Artaxerxes.
Ezra 8
36 versesThe companions of Esdras. The fast which he appointed. They bring the holy vessels into the temple.
Ezra 9
15 versesEsdras mourneth for the transgression of the people: his confession and prayer.
Ezra 10
44 versesOrder is given for discharging strange women: the names of the guilty.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Ezra is read at the principal Mass on 2 days in the US calendar. The next 2 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| computed | Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs | First Reading | Ezra 1:1-6 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Ezra 9:5-9 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.