Keraia
Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13:27

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

Translations

Modern
Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
Traditional
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
Literal
And to you shall we listen to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God by settling with foreign women?”
Latin
Numquid et nos inobedientes faciemus omne malum grande hoc ut prævaricemur in Deo nostro, et ducamus uxores peregrinas?

Original

Hebrew
English
Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”

Notes

Nehemiah 13:26–27

King Solomon led the nation into sin through his foreign wives (1 Kings 11). If intermarriage with non-believers continued, the community would face the same downfall. Nehemiah would not allow that.

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.

Theme notes and profiles

Nehemiah Dealing with Conflict

Parallels

Ezra 9:1–4

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Elephantine Papyri Eliashib Genealogy Malachi, Book of Mixed Marriage Nehemiah (Person) Postexilic Period

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Persons in Authority should Denounce Divorce: General Scriptures Concerning Marriage: Wives Among the Israelites Must be Israelites Religious Zeal: Nehemiah The Ammonites: The Jews Reprobated for Intermarrying With