Question 1

What does Nehemiah 10:30 mean?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 10:30 records a promise made by the people of Israel not to allow their daughters to marry the people of the land, nor to take the daughters of those people as wives for their sons. This is a commitment to keep their families distinct from the surrounding nations by not intermarrying. The verse comes as part of a larger agreement or covenant that the returned exiles make with God, led by Nehemiah. The leaders and people are pledging to follow specific laws, and this particular promise addresses marriage with the local non-Israelite population. The concern is about maintaining religious and cultural identity, as intermarriage often led to adopting foreign religious practices.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 10:30

Accepted Answer

"give" (נָתַן, natan, H5414): This word means to hand over or allow. Here, it refers to the act of giving daughters in marriage, which was a formal family decision. "people" (עַם, am, H5971): This word means a group or nation. In this context, it refers to the non-Israelite inhabitants of the land, emphasizing a distinction between Israel and others. "land" (אֶרֶץ, erets, H776): This word means land or territory. It highlights that the people being referred to are those living in the same geographic area but not sharing Israel’s faith or customs. "take" (לָקַח, laqach, H3947): This word means to take or receive. Here, it refers to accepting daughters from other groups as wives for their sons, showing the reciprocal nature of marriage arrangements.

Question 3

Why Nehemiah 10:30 matters

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 10:30 clarifies that the concern is not ethnic difference alone, but the risk of adopting foreign religious practices through marriage, which had caused problems in Israel’s past. This verse shows the seriousness with which the returned exiles approached renewing their covenant with God, making specific commitments to avoid past mistakes. The verse connects to the broader reforms in Nehemiah, where the people are re-establishing their identity and faithfulness after returning from exile, emphasizing obedience to God’s law in everyday life.

Nehemiah 10:30 (KJV)