And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

NEHEMIAH 13:25KJV
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Nehemiah 13:25 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 13:25 mean?

Nehemiah 13:25 describes Nehemiah confronting some of the people in Jerusalem who had married foreign women, taking strong actions against them and making them promise not to intermarry with foreigners. The verse shows Nehemiah’s intense response to what he saw as a serious violation of Israel’s covenant with God.

Nehemiah himself is speaking here, addressing Jewish men who had married women from neighboring peoples. The situation is tense: Nehemiah is trying to restore faithfulness among the returned exiles after discovering that some families were blending with non-Israelite cultures, which he believed threatened their identity and faith. His actions—arguing, cursing, striking some, pulling out hair, and demanding an oath—reflect both the seriousness of the issue and the urgency he felt to correct it.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 13:25

  • "contended" (רִיב, riv): This word means to argue or dispute. Nehemiah is not just passively disappointed; he is actively confronting and debating with those involved.
  • "cursed" (קָלַל, qalal): This term can mean to pronounce a curse or to speak harshly. Nehemiah’s words are strong, possibly invoking consequences or expressing deep disapproval.
  • "smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This word means to strike or hit. The verse indicates Nehemiah physically punished some men, showing the seriousness with which he viewed the offense.
  • "hair" (מָרַט, marat): The phrase refers to pulling out hair, a humiliating and painful act. This was a public sign of shame and discipline in the ancient world.
  • "swear" (שָׁבַע, shava): Nehemiah made them take an oath by God, binding them to a promise with the highest seriousness.

Why Nehemiah 13:25 matters

  • The verse clarifies just how seriously Nehemiah took the issue of intermarriage, using both words and actions to try to stop it, which helps explain the intensity of his leadership style.
  • It shows the lengths to which leaders in post-exilic Israel would go to preserve their community’s distinct identity and faith, especially after returning from exile.
  • The verse connects to the wider theme in Nehemiah of rebuilding not just Jerusalem’s walls but also the people’s commitment to their covenant with God, highlighting the challenges of maintaining religious and cultural boundaries.

Where else these words appear

“hair” Hebrew H4803 · used in 9 verses

  • Leviticus 13:40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.
  • Ezra 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
  • Ezekiel 21:11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

“contended” Hebrew H7378 · used in 59 verses

  • Genesis 26:20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
  • Nehemiah 13:11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
  • Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

“cursed” Hebrew H7043 · used in 79 verses

  • Genesis 8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
  • 2 Samuel 16:7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
  • Psalms 109:28 Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.