Nehemiah 13 24

Nehemiah 13:24 kjv

And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

Nehemiah 13:24 nkjv

And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.

Nehemiah 13:24 niv

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah.

Nehemiah 13:24 esv

And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.

Nehemiah 13:24 nlt

Furthermore, half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of some other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 24 Meaning

Nehemiah 13:24 describes a crucial symptom of spiritual decline in the post-exilic community: children born of mixed marriages were speaking the languages of their pagan mothers, such as Ashdodite, and could no longer speak the Hebrew language of Judah. This linguistic erosion signified a profound loss of cultural and religious identity, jeopardizing the transmission of the covenant heritage and the Law to the next generation. It underscored the extent to which foreign influences had penetrated and diluted the purity of the Israelite community, a direct result of ignoring God's commands against intermarriage.

Nehemiah 13 24 Context

Nehemiah 13 is set after Nehemiah's second return to Jerusalem from Babylon, having served as governor. During his absence, many of the reforms he had initiated earlier were neglected. The chapter details Nehemiah's drastic measures to correct various abuses, including defiling the temple (by Tobiah), neglecting the Levites' support, profaning the Sabbath, and critically, mixed marriages with foreign women. Verse 24 is part of Nehemiah's fervent confrontation regarding the mixed marriages described in verse 23. This issue was a profound concern for Ezra and Nehemiah, as it had historically led Israel astray into idolatry and undermined their unique identity as God's chosen people. The inability of the children to speak Hebrew highlighted the direct impact of these marriages on the future generations, signalling a breakdown in the transmission of the covenant faith and threatening to fully assimilate God's people into pagan cultures.

Nehemiah 13 24 Word analysis

• And half (וַחֲצִי, wa-chatzi): The Hebrew term chatzi means "half" but is often used to denote "a significant portion" or "many" rather than a precise 50%. This indicates that the problem of linguistic and cultural assimilation was widespread, not an isolated incident.
• of their children (בְּנֵיהֶם, b'nehem): Refers to the offspring of the mixed marriages mentioned in Nehemiah 13:23. These children were literally caught between two cultures, embodying the broken covenant.
• spoke the language (מְדַבֵּר לְשׁוֹן, m'dabber leshon): Medabber (Qal participle of dabar, "to speak") implies an ongoing, present state, emphasizing that this was an active, observable problem at the time of Nehemiah's return. "Leshon" means tongue or language.
• of Ashdod (אֲשְׁדּוֹדִית, ashdodith): Ashdod was one of the five major Philistine cities, known for its strong pagan culture and ongoing conflict with Israel throughout history. Speaking its language suggests not just linguistic absorption but deeper cultural and religious assimilation from one of Israel's traditional enemies.
• and could not speak (וְאֵינָם מַכִּירִים לְדַבֵּר, v'einam makkirim l'dabber): More literally, "and they did not recognize how to speak" the language of Judah. This indicates a profound ignorance and disconnection, not merely difficulty. They were effectively cut off from the primary means of understanding their ancestral scriptures and religious practices.
• in the language of Judah (יְהוּדִית, yehudith): This refers to Hebrew, the sacred language in which the Torah was written and through which God had revealed Himself. Its loss represented a severe breach in the continuity of the covenant faith.
• but rather in the language of each people (כִּלְשׁוֹן עַם וָעָם, kilshon am va'am): This phrase emphasizes that the problem wasn't limited to Ashdodite. Children were also speaking other foreign languages, highlighting a broader issue of multicultural assimilation at the expense of distinct Israelite identity, showing that intermarriage extended beyond a single ethnic group mentioned in the text. This signified a fragmented, syncretic community.

• "half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod": This phrase points to the visible and tangible evidence of cultural dilution. It highlights that the foreign influence was so pervasive that even the next generation, crucial for the continuity of the faith, was losing its linguistic link to the covenant. This loss of native language signaled a broader loss of identity and a failure in transmitting God's Law and heritage.
• "could not speak in the language of Judah": This is not just a language barrier but a spiritual one. The inability to speak Hebrew meant a diminishing capacity to read and understand the Mosaic Law, participate fully in Temple worship, and internalize their unique identity as God's covenant people. It implied a severe impediment to religious education and faithfulness.
• "but rather in the language of each people": This clause amplifies the crisis, indicating that the problem wasn't singular. Children were speaking various pagan tongues, illustrating a general absorption into surrounding idolatrous cultures, further fragmenting the unified religious and national identity God intended for Israel.

Nehemiah 13 24 Bonus section

The Philistine influence, particularly from Ashdod, mentioned in this verse, points to a long-standing tension. Historically, Philistia represented persistent pagan opposition to Israel. Their languages, culture, and religious practices (e.g., Dagon worship) were antithetical to the Mosaic Law. The adoption of Ashdodite by the children indicates not merely cultural assimilation but a profound acceptance of foreign influence that threatened the distinctiveness and purity of God's chosen people. This linguistic shift implicitly suggested a drift towards syncretism, where foreign customs and even religious practices would naturally follow the embrace of foreign languages and familial ties. Nehemiah understood that preserving the "language of Judah" was synonymous with preserving the "Torah of Judah" and ultimately the "God of Judah." This serves as a timeless reminder that neglecting spiritual separation can lead to the loss of fundamental identifiers of faith across generations.

Nehemiah 13 24 Commentary

Nehemiah 13:24 serves as a stark warning about the insidious consequences of spiritual compromise and the dilution of divine standards. The linguistic alienation of the children epitomized the deeper spiritual erosion caused by intermarriage with pagan cultures. Language is not merely a tool for communication; it is often a carrier of culture, heritage, and identity. For post-exilic Israel, the Hebrew language (language of Judah) was intrinsically linked to their covenant identity, the Law, and their worship of Yahweh. The inability of the children to speak it meant they were disconnected from their past, their scriptures, and effectively from God's unfolding story for His people. This phenomenon underscores Nehemiah's fierce dedication to covenant purity and separation, recognizing that outward assimilation always leads to inward apostasy. The children’s foreign speech was a visible manifestation of an invisible spiritual defection among their parents, demonstrating how easily generations can drift away from God's truth when boundaries are not upheld. It emphasizes the critical role of parents in faithfully preserving and transmitting spiritual heritage through practical means like language and adherence to God's commands for spiritual purity within the home.