In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

NEHEMIAH 13:23KJV
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Nehemiah 13:23 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 13:23 mean?

Nehemiah 13:23 describes how Nehemiah, during his time in Jerusalem, noticed that some Jewish men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. This verse points out a specific concern about intermarriage with people from neighboring nations.

Nehemiah himself is speaking here, recounting what he observed among the Jewish community after their return from exile. The mention of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab highlights groups historically seen as outsiders or even adversaries to Israel. This sets the stage for Nehemiah’s later actions and concerns about maintaining the distinct identity and faithfulness of the Jewish people.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 13:23

  • יְהוּדִי (yehudim, "Jews"): This word refers specifically to members of the Jewish people, emphasizing the community’s identity and heritage.
  • יָשַׁב (yashav, "married"): The Hebrew word often means "to dwell" or "to live with," but here it is used to describe the act of living together as husband and wife, highlighting the seriousness of these unions.
  • אִשָּׁה (ishah, "wives"): This word simply means "woman" or "wife," but its use here underlines the focus on marriage relationships with women from outside groups.
  • אַשְׁדּוֹד (Ashdod), עַמּוֹן (Ammon), מוֹאָב (Moab): These place names refer to neighboring peoples, each with its own history of interaction and conflict with Israel, which would have been significant to Nehemiah and his audience.

Why Nehemiah 13:23 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Nehemiah’s concern was not just about foreign influence in general, but specifically about marriages that could lead to cultural and religious blending.
  • By naming Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, Nehemiah connects the issue to past conflicts and warnings in Israel’s history, showing why these marriages were seen as especially problematic.
  • The verse sets up the actions Nehemiah takes in the following verses, helping readers understand his motivation and the challenges of rebuilding the Jewish community’s identity after exile.

Where else these words appear

“Ashdod” Hebrew H796 · used in 5 verses

  • Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
  • 1 Samuel 5:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
  • 1 Samuel 5:6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

“Moab” Hebrew H4125 · used in 16 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.
  • Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
  • 1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

“Ammon” Hebrew H5984 · used in 18 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
  • 1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
  • Ezra 9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

“Jews” Hebrew H3064 · used in 70 verses

  • 2 Kings 16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
  • Esther 6:13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
  • Esther 9:20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,