Nehemiah 13 23

Nehemiah 13:23 kjv

In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

Nehemiah 13:23 nkjv

In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Nehemiah 13:23 niv

Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.

Nehemiah 13:23 esv

In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Nehemiah 13:23 nlt

About the same time I realized that some of the men of Judah had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 23 Meaning

Nehemiah 13:23 details Nehemiah’s personal discovery of a severe spiritual and social problem among the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem: the widespread practice of men from Judah taking wives from the pagan nations of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. This act constituted a direct violation of God’s covenant laws, jeopardizing the religious purity and distinct identity of Israel as His chosen people.

Nehemiah 13 23 Context

Nehemiah 13 describes the state of the Jewish community in Jerusalem during Nehemiah's second term as governor, likely after he returned from Babylon. Having found the reforms implemented during his first tenure neglected, Nehemiah embarked on a renewed cleansing and restoration. The preceding verses (13:4-14) describe his expelling Tobiah (an Ammonite) from the Temple courts, restoring Levitical provisions, and correcting Sabbath desecration. Verse 23 presents the climax of the issues, specifically highlighting intermarriage as a pervasive problem that directly undermined the spiritual integrity and distinct identity of God's covenant people. Historically, after the Babylonian exile, preserving the Jewish identity and purity from assimilation with surrounding pagan cultures was a paramount concern, as a similar issue was dealt with by Ezra (Ezra 9-10). The problem wasn't merely social but theological, threatening to reintroduce idolatry and dissolve Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh, which had led to previous exiles.

Nehemiah 13 23 Word analysis

• In those days (בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם - bayyamim hahem): This phrase indicates a specific period after Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem from the Persian court. It signals the grave state of decline and the unraveling of prior reforms during his absence.
• also (גַּם - gam): This conjunctive particle signifies that the issue of intermarriage was yet another serious transgression Nehemiah discovered, alongside temple defilement and Sabbath-breaking, highlighting a comprehensive backsliding among the community.
• I saw (רָאִ֥יתִי - ra'iti): This emphasizes Nehemiah’s personal observation, direct involvement, and leadership responsibility in confronting the societal breakdown. It denotes an active, firsthand discovery of the problem.
• Jews (יְהוּדִֽים - Yehudim): Refers to the returning exiles of Judah. This highlights that the problem of intermarriage was widespread among God's covenant people themselves, demonstrating a profound compromise of their distinct identity and faith.
• who had married (הֹשִׁ֣יבוּ - hoshivu): Derived from the Hebrew root "yashab" (to sit, dwell), this form means "to cause to settle," or in this context, "to bring home as wives." It implies an established, formal marital union, not merely casual encounters, underscoring the deep nature of the covenant transgression.
• women (נָשִׁ֖ים - nashim): A straightforward term referring to adult females, wives.
• from Ashdod (מֵאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֑יּוֹת - me'Ashdodiyyot): Ashdod was one of the five major Philistine cities, known historically as enemies of Israel and for their idolatrous worship (e.g., Dagon). Marriage with women from Ashdod introduced both an ungodly heritage and a lingering spirit of antagonism into Israelite households.
• Ammon (וְעַמּוֹנִיּוֹת - ve'Ammoniyyot): Descendants of Lot through incest, Ammonites were forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord for ten generations due to their hostility against Israel during the Exodus (Deut 23:3-6). They were associated with the worship of Molech (1 Kgs 11:7).
• and Moab (וּמוֹאֲבִיּוֹת - u'Mo'abiyyot): Descendants of Lot through incest, Moabites also faced exclusion from Israel's assembly for similar reasons to Ammonites (Deut 23:3-6), and were associated with idolatry (Chemosh, 1 Kgs 11:7) and past seduction of Israelites to false worship (Num 25:1-3).
• "Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab": This entire phrase encapsulates the essence of the offense. It portrays the shocking reality that the covenant people of God, having returned from exile and committed to national restoration, were undermining their unique identity and spiritual integrity by forming marital bonds with individuals from nations explicitly prohibited by Mosaic law and historically antagonistic to Israel and its God. The specific naming of these nations underscores the deliberate and flagrant nature of the transgression.

Nehemiah 13 23 Bonus section

• Persistent Challenge: The issue of intermarriage demonstrates a recurring pattern of compromise within Israel's history, highlighting the enduring human struggle between covenant fidelity and worldly conformity. This challenge persisted from the time of the Judges to the post-exilic period, necessitating repeated interventions by God's leaders.
• Threat to Lineage: Beyond the spiritual contamination, intermarriage also posed a very practical threat to the purity of the Messianic line. Maintaining the distinct identity and purity of the Abrahamic covenant seed was critical to God's plan of redemption.
• Polemics against Assimilation: Nehemiah's forceful actions, including physical discipline and linguistic reform (Neh 13:24), served as a powerful polemic against the dangers of assimilation and compromise with pagan cultures, emphasizing God's call for His people to be set apart.
• Leadership and Confrontation: This verse underscores the responsibility of spiritual leaders to observe, confront, and correct sin decisively when the community drifts from God's commands. Nehemiah's zeal mirrors prophetic tradition in identifying and dealing with the root causes of spiritual declension.

Nehemiah 13 23 Commentary

Nehemiah 13:23 marks a poignant moment in Nehemiah's struggle to restore purity and faithfulness among the returned exiles. It reveals that the severe spiritual sickness of assimilation, confronted forcefully by Ezra, had reemerged during Nehemiah's absence from Jerusalem. The core issue of intermarriage with women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab was not a matter of racial prejudice but a profound spiritual crisis. These nations were historical enemies and devout idolaters, specifically banned from the congregation of Israel (Deut 23:3-6) due to their hostile actions and pagan practices. Such marriages inevitably led to the corruption of the Hebrew language and, more crucially, to religious syncretism, weakening commitment to Yahweh and fostering idolatry, which had been the primary cause of their exile. Nehemiah's "I saw" indicates a firm, personal confrontation with a problem that threatened to completely dissolve the distinct covenant identity of Israel and reverse all progress toward rebuilding a holy nation. This served as a stark reminder of the continuous need for God's people to guard their spiritual boundaries against the world's influences. For believers today, this passage stresses the importance of spiritual discernment in relationships and avoiding associations that compromise one's commitment to Christ, lest one's faith and the faith of their household be diluted.