Ezra 10 29

Ezra 10:29 kjv

And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.

Ezra 10:29 nkjv

of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth;

Ezra 10:29 niv

From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.

Ezra 10:29 esv

Of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

Ezra 10:29 nlt

From the family of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

Ezra 10 verses

Ezra 10 29 Meaning

Ezra 10:29 lists specific individuals from the family of Bani who had married foreign women and agreed to put them away. This verse is part of a detailed record of those who confessed their sin of intermarriage, highlighting their names as a concrete testament to the community's commitment to uphold the Law of Moses and purify themselves before God following Ezra's call to repentance. It underscores the personal accountability of each individual within the communal act of reformation.

Ezra 10 29 Context

Ezra chapter 10 recounts the painful but necessary spiritual cleansing of the community after Ezra discovered the pervasive problem of intermarriage with foreign women, forbidden by Mosaic Law (Deut 7:3). Following Ezra's powerful prayer of lament and confession in chapter 9, the people, led by Shechaniah, proposed making a covenant to put away their foreign wives and children (Ezra 10:2-5). A general assembly was called, and despite the challenge, the people agreed to undertake this reform. Ezra 10:18-44 provides the specific lists of individuals who were found guilty of this transgression, confirming their confession and action. Verse 29 specifically lists members of the family of Bani, underscoring that this sin was not confined to a few but was widespread, necessitating a rigorous and publicly recorded correction for the sake of Israel's spiritual purity and distinct covenant identity in the post-exilic period.

Ezra 10 29 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve): A simple conjunctive particle, linking this specific family (Bani) to the broader list of those who committed the transgression of intermarriage and agreed to repent. It shows continuity in the record.
• of the sons of (בְּנֵי - b'nei): This Hebrew term signifies lineage, descendants, or membership in a particular clan or family. It highlights the familial unit as the recognized social and religious structure, suggesting collective responsibility and identification. This emphasizes that the individuals were not isolated but part of a known lineage.
• Bani (בָּנִי - Bani): This name means "My Builder" or "My Son." It is a relatively common name or family designation in the post-exilic period (e.g., Ezra 2:10; Neh 7:15; 9:4). In this context, it refers to a prominent family or clan within Israel who had members guilty of intermarriage. The naming of the family head points to the organizational principle by which these transgressions were being documented and addressed, reinforcing tribal/familial accountability.
• Meshullam (מְשֻׁלָּם - Meshullam): "Recompensed" or "At peace."
• Malluch (מַלּוּךְ - Malluch): "Reigning" or "Counseled."
• Adaiah (עֲדָיָה - `Adayah): "Yah has adorned."
• Jashub (יָשׁוּב - Yashuv): "He will return" or "A turning." This name, though common, is particularly poignant in the context of the community "returning" to God's law and forsaking their previous practices.
• Sheal (שְׁאָל - She’al): "To ask."
• Jerimoth (יְרֵימוֹת - Yerimoth): "Heights."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And of the sons of Bani": This phrase establishes the specific clan from which these men originated. It implies that entire family units or lineages were involved in the sin, and thus, whole families faced the consequence and undertook reform. The meticulous naming by familial lines reflects the genealogical and tribal focus important for Israel's identity and purity. This detailed record highlights the seriousness of the breach of God's law and the comprehensive nature of the required repentance. The community was ordered by their known family groupings to ensure no one escaped accountability.
• "Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jerimoth": The individual listing of names serves as a powerful record. It signifies not merely a general acknowledgment of sin but specific, personal accountability before God and the community. By recording their names, the text emphasizes that these were real people making real sacrifices as part of the covenant renewal. Their presence in this list reflects their compliance with the difficult decree to separate from foreign wives and children, symbolizing their personal act of obedience for the sake of the larger covenant community's spiritual integrity.

Ezra 10 29 Bonus section

The inclusion of precise names and lineages throughout Ezra 10 signifies the profound theological principle that God deals with His people both corporately and individually. The communal confession of sin led by Ezra elicited a collective response, yet the implementation of the reform required individual members to make deeply personal, difficult choices. This practice of "putting away" (which implies separation and divorce) these wives and children was an extreme measure reflecting the urgency to preserve Israel's unique spiritual heritage from further compromise after generations of prior failure that led to exile. While profoundly painful, it was seen as necessary for the survival of the pure line through which the Messiah would eventually come. It underscores that sometimes, radical surgery is required to preserve the life of the patient, and spiritual purity is of paramount importance to the covenant community.

Ezra 10 29 Commentary

Ezra 10:29, though a simple list of names, powerfully conveys the painful yet vital commitment to obedience during Israel's post-exilic restoration. It illustrates that spiritual renewal demands concrete action and personal sacrifice, even when those actions are deeply challenging, such as dissolving families formed through unlawful marriages. The listing of these men from the family of Bani underlines that the sin of intermarriage was not abstract but pervasive, touching prominent clans, and that the repentance was equally concrete, with each named individual taking responsibility. This painful act was considered essential to maintain Israel's distinct covenant identity, prevent past idolatry from re-emerging, and ensure future faithfulness to God. It stands as a testament to the community's willingness to prioritize divine law over personal comfort or social norms for the sake of a holy lineage.