Nehemiah 13:3 kjv
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
Nehemiah 13:3 nkjv
So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
Nehemiah 13:3 niv
When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.
Nehemiah 13:3 esv
As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
Nehemiah 13:3 nlt
When this passage of the Law was read, all those of foreign descent were immediately excluded from the assembly.
Nehemiah 13 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 23:3-6 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord... | Direct command leading to Neh 13:3. |
| Exod 12:38 | A mixed multitude also went up with them... | Precedent for 'foreigners' (erev) being present. |
| Num 11:4 | Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving... | The 'mixed multitude' caused spiritual trouble. |
| Ezra 9:1-2 | For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves... | Ezra's prior actions against foreign marriages. |
| Ezra 10:11 | Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. | Ezra's command for purification. |
| Mal 2:11 | Judah has been faithless, and an abomination has been committed... | Condemnation of spiritual faithlessness and foreign intermarriage. |
| 1 Kin 11:1-8 | Solomon loved many foreign women... they turned away his heart. | Consequences of foreign alliances and idolatry. |
| Josh 23:7-13 | Do not mingle with these nations... For if you make treaties with them... | Warning against assimilation and its dangers. |
| Lev 20:26 | You shall be holy to me, for I am holy... I have separated you... | God's call for Israel to be set apart. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-18 | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... Come out from among them... | New Testament principle of spiritual separation. |
| Eph 5:7-11 | Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness... | Avoid fellowship with ungodliness. |
| Rom 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. | Spiritual non-conformity. |
| 1 Cor 5:11-13 | Not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is sexually immoral... | Excommunication for purity in NT church. |
| Num 25:1-9 | While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. | Danger of spiritual compromise through foreign women. |
| Isa 52:11 | Depart, depart, go out from there... Purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels... | Call to separate from unholiness. |
| Zech 2:7 | Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. | Call to flee spiritual defilement. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. | Call for holiness. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Emphasis on purity. |
| Ezra 6:21 | They separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land. | Similar act of separation upon returning to Jerusalem. |
| Judges 2:2 | And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break their altars. | God's command to not mingle with Canaanites. |
| Rev 18:4 | Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people..." | End-times call to spiritual separation. |
Nehemiah 13 verses
Nehemiah 13 3 Meaning
The people of Israel, upon hearing and understanding God's Law regarding separation from foreign influence, immediately acted to purify their community by removing all non-covenant, potentially defiling, foreign individuals and elements from their midst. This was an act of obedience to maintain the covenantal distinctness and spiritual integrity of the nation.
Nehemiah 13 3 Context
Nehemiah 13 describes the reforms Nehemiah enacted during his second term as governor in Jerusalem. Upon returning from Babylon, he found various abuses: Tobiah, an Ammonite, residing in the temple, Levites neglected, Sabbath desecrated, and widespread intermarriage with foreign women. Prior to verse 3, Nehemiah recounts finding it written in the Law that Ammonites and Moabites should not enter God's assembly (referring to Deut 23:3-6). Verse 3 then details the immediate, unified response of the people to this discovery, leading to the decisive action of separating from foreign individuals to restore the community's spiritual integrity and adherence to God's covenant. This action set the stage for Nehemiah's further reforms against the other transgressions.
Nehemiah 13 3 Word analysis
- So when they heard: This phrase indicates an immediate and direct response to revelation. The act of "hearing" (שָׁמְעָם, sham'am, from shama meaning to hear and obey) is critical in biblical thought, implying not just intellectual understanding but an active taking to heart and application of truth. Their obedience followed directly from their hearing.
- the Law: Refers to the written Torah, God's divine instruction given to Israel, specifically cited as the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:3-6 in this immediate context). The Law was the ultimate authority for life and conduct in Israel.
- they separated: The Hebrew verb is וַיַּבְדִּילוּ (vayavdilo), derived from the root בָּדַל (badal), meaning "to divide, distinguish, or separate." This term is highly significant, used throughout the Old Testament for distinguishing between holy and common, clean and unclean, light and darkness (e.g., Gen 1:4, 14; Lev 10:10). Here, it signifies a decisive, conscious act of demarcation and purification, establishing boundaries for covenant people. It's a foundational concept for Israel's unique identity as a holy nation set apart for God.
- from Israel: This clarifies who was being separated from. Israel was God's chosen, covenant people, defined by their allegiance to Yahweh and His Law. The separation was designed to preserve the purity and distinctness of this covenant community.
- all foreigners: The Hebrew term is כָּל־עֵרֶב (kol-`erev), meaning "all of the mixed multitude" or "all aliens." The word `erev` (עֶרֶב) specifically refers to the non-Israelite or composite population that accompanied Israel out of Egypt (Exod 12:38) and later incited trouble (Num 11:4). This is not a blanket condemnation of all Gentiles (as proselytes were accepted), but rather those who maintained foreign loyalties, brought idolatrous practices, or refused to fully adhere to the Mosaic covenant. The separation was against those who, through intermarriage or pagan influences, diluted Israel's spiritual integrity and often led to apostasy.
- "when they heard the Law, they separated": This phrase highlights the critical link between hearing God's word and immediate, obedient action. True hearing of the Law demands a response. This sequence showcases a healthy spiritual condition within the community at this point, contrasting with earlier complacency under Nehemiah's absence.
- "separated from Israel all foreigners": This is an active corporate purification. The intent was not necessarily ethnic cleansing in a modern sense, but a spiritual cleansing of the covenant community. Foreigners who genuinely converted and pledged allegiance to Yahweh and His Law were always welcome, but those who clung to their foreign gods and customs (often through intermarriage) were seen as a spiritual danger and removed to preserve the holiness and distinctiveness of God's people. This measure was a defensive act against religious and moral contamination, ensuring the restoration efforts would be lasting.
Nehemiah 13 3 Bonus section
The immediate and corporate obedience demonstrated in Nehemiah 13:3 stands in stark contrast to previous instances in Israel's history where they neglected similar commands and suffered severe consequences (e.g., Judges 2:2-3, 11-13; 1 Kings 11:1-8). This verse marks a peak moment of commitment and serves as a powerful illustration that true repentance and revival involve concrete, often difficult, actions of separation from anything that contaminates one's relationship with God or His people. This concept of separation is not for isolation but for consecration to God, reflecting His own holiness, as later echoed in New Testament calls for believers to be holy and set apart in their conduct from the world's unrighteousness (2 Cor 6:14-18; 1 Pet 1:15-16).
Nehemiah 13 3 Commentary
Nehemiah 13:3 describes a crucial moment of national obedience. Having rediscovered a specific mandate in the Law regarding exclusion of certain foreign elements, the people of Judah responded with decisive action. This separation was paramount for the spiritual well-being of the covenant community. It demonstrated a recognition that God's people must be distinct, set apart for His purposes, unpolluted by defiling external influences or mixed loyalties. This act underscored that compromise with foreign religious and cultural practices, often fostered by intermarriage, was a direct threat to Israel's covenant with Yahweh and their identity as a holy nation. Their unified response of self-purification affirmed the supremacy of God's word and the importance of spiritual integrity.