Keraia
Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13:24

Intermarriage Forbidden · Nehemiah 13:23–31
Read Nehemiah 13

Translations

Modern
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And of their sons, half were speaking Ashdodite, and none of them knowing how to speak Judean, and according to the tongue of people by people.
Latin
Et filii eorum ex media parte loquebantur azotice, et nesciebant loqui judaice, et loquebantur juxta linguam populi et populi.

Original

Hebrew
English
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.

Notes

Nehemiah 13:23–24

The earlier marriage reforms (Nehemiah 9:2; 10:28; Ezra 9:1–10:44) did not last. The children could not speak Hebrew, the language of Judah. This was disastrous because they could not read or understand the Scriptures.

Nehemiah 13:15–31

Nehemiah made two more changes to bring back correct Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15–22) and correct marriage practices (13:23–31). These two sections follow a similar pattern: Nehemiah found a problem, fixed it, and then asked God for a blessing.

Parallels

Ezra 9:1–4

Places

Ashdod: A major Philistine city, known for Dagon worship

Glossary

Aramaic Ashdod, Ashdodite, Ashdothite Book of Nehemiah Elephantine Papyri Eliashib Genealogy Hebrew Language Jew Malachi, Book of Mixed Marriage Nehemiah (Person) Postexilic Period

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Persons in Authority should Denounce Ashdod: Jews Intermarry With Divorce: General Scriptures Concerning Language: Ashdod Religious Zeal: Nehemiah The Ammonites: The Jews Reprobated for Intermarrying With