Ezra 10 21

Ezra 10:21 kjv

And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

Ezra 10:21 nkjv

of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah;

Ezra 10:21 niv

From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.

Ezra 10:21 esv

Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

Ezra 10:21 nlt

From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

Ezra 10 verses

Ezra 10 21 Meaning

Ezra 10:21 is a specific entry in the record of men who had taken foreign wives during the post-exilic period, identifying five individuals—Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah—all from the priestly or clan lineage of Harim. This verse, situated within a longer list (verses 18-44), documents a critical step in the community's repentance and purification following Ezra's intercession for their sin of intermarriage. It underscores the communal commitment to spiritual integrity and the specific, individual accountability in re-establishing covenant faithfulness with God after the Babylonian exile.

Ezra 10 21 Context

Ezra chapter 10 marks the culmination of the deep spiritual anguish and public confession expressed in chapter 9. Ezra, having been appointed by the Persian king Artaxerxes to restore order and observance of God's law in Jerusalem, discovers that many Jews, including priests and Levites, had violated a foundational command: they had intermarried with women from the surrounding pagan nations. This was not merely a social transgression but a direct breach of the Mosaic covenant, threatening the spiritual purity and unique identity of the Israelite community, thereby risking a repeat of the apostasy that led to their exile.

Following Ezra's profound prayer of lament and repentance, the people gathered and, under the leadership of Shecaniah, confessed their sin and resolved to rectify it by covenanting to divorce their foreign wives and send them and their children away. This radical and difficult measure was seen as necessary to prevent complete spiritual assimilation and to preserve the holiness of God's people in the restored land. Ezra 10 details the formal process: the assembly's agreement to the plan, the establishment of a three-month investigation by a commission led by Ezra, and ultimately, the listing of the specific men found to be guilty, alongside their commitment to separate. Verse 21 is a specific entry within this comprehensive list, detailing five men from the clan of Harim, reinforcing the pervasive nature of the sin and the systematic approach taken to address it.

Ezra 10 21 Word analysis

• and from the sons of: The Hebrew וּמִבְּנֵי (u-mi-bə-nê) means "and from the sons of." The conjunction "and" connects this group of individuals to the previous entries in the comprehensive list of those who had transgressed. "From the sons of" indicates lineage or membership within a specific ancestral family or clan, identifying their tribal or priestly affiliation.

• Harim: The Hebrew חָרִם (Ḥārîm) identifies a specific ancestral house or family line. In other biblical texts (e.g., Ezr 2:32, Neh 7:35), the sons of Harim are listed as a priestly family or a significant clan who returned from exile with Zerubbabel or Ezra. Their presence in this list underscores that even prominent families, entrusted with religious leadership, were affected by the widespread sin of intermarriage. This highlights the deep spiritual compromise across the community.

• Maaseiah: The Hebrew מַעֲשֵׂיָה (Ma‘ăśēyāh) means "work of Yah" or "Yah has made." It was a relatively common name in biblical times. Its meaning might ironically point to God's ultimate work in restoring His people, despite the failures of individuals like Maaseiah.

• Elijah: The Hebrew וְאֵלִיָּה (wə-ʾĒlîyāh), meaning "my God is Yahweh," is not the famous prophet, but another individual sharing the same powerful name. The presence of a name affirming God's sovereignty further emphasizes the stark contrast between the personal devotion suggested by the name and the disobedience demonstrated by the individual's actions.

• Shemaiah: The Hebrew וּשְׁמַעְיָה (ū-Šəma‘yāh), meaning "Yahweh has heard," is another common biblical name. Like "Elijah," its meaning contrasts with the actions of disobedience, highlighting God's attentiveness even to their sinful state, which in turn leads to the opportunity for confession and repentance.

• Jehiel: The Hebrew וִֽיחִיאֵל (wî-Ḥîʾēl), meaning "God lives" or "May God live," further reflects the theological significance often embedded in ancient Israelite names. This individual, despite bearing a name affirming God's living presence, had failed to live in obedience to God's direct commands.

• and Uzziah: The Hebrew וְעֻזִּיָּה (wə-‘Uzzîyāh), meaning "My strength is Yah," shares a name with the famous king of Judah (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26). The inclusion of individuals with such strong, theophoric names, indicating deep reverence for Yahweh in their naming, powerfully illustrates the pervasive nature of the sin of intermarriage and the profound extent of the community's failure to adhere to the covenant, requiring this drastic step of reformation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "and from the sons of Harim": This phrase establishes the lineage and connection to a recognized family or priestly order. It indicates that the sin of intermarriage was not confined to marginalized groups but affected various strata of the returning community, including those who should have upheld the highest standards of the law due to their prominence or religious responsibilities. This points to the need for universal accountability before God.
  • "Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah": This specific enumeration of five names from one family emphasizes the thoroughness of the investigation and the individual nature of responsibility within the larger community. It highlights that the covenant breach was not an abstract collective failing but comprised of specific choices made by individual men. The act of listing them by name signifies the gravity of their actions and their participation in the communal purification process.

Ezra 10 21 Bonus section

The rigorous record-keeping found throughout Ezra-Nehemiah, including lists like the one in Ezra 10:21, is characteristic of ancient Near Eastern administration and specifically underscores the meticulousness of the scribal tradition in Israel. It serves several functions: it validates the official nature of the census and the actions taken; it provides a historical testimony of accountability and corporate repentance; and it underscores the idea that every individual, even seemingly ordinary persons, are known and held accountable before God in the fulfillment of His covenant. These names, though perhaps unremarkable to us today, were integral to the community's cleansing, reflecting a deep spiritual audit necessary to maintain the "holy seed" (Ezra 9:2). This radical commitment was seen as indispensable for their continued existence and faithfulness in anticipation of the coming Messiah through this pure lineage.

Ezra 10 21 Commentary

Ezra 10:21 provides a specific snapshot within a list of widespread repentance and purification in post-exilic Israel. The names themselves, carrying meanings related to Yahweh's work, hearing, life, and strength, subtly underscore the tragedy of human disobedience against a faithful God. The presence of these specific names from the influential Harim family reveals the pervasive nature of intermarriage beyond any particular social class or religious standing. The severe measure of divorcing foreign wives and sending them away was considered vital not out of hatred for the women, but from an urgent commitment to preserve the unique spiritual identity and purity of God's covenant people. The detailed listing underscores accountability, demonstrating that communal sin requires individual recognition and remedy, and that even difficult actions are necessary to uphold the divine covenant and prepare a pure remnant for God's purposes. The verse, therefore, is a stark reminder of the sanctity of God's people and the critical importance of spiritual separation from practices that threaten the covenant relationship.