Nehemiah 13:27 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 13:27 mean?

Nehemiah 13:27 is a strong warning against marrying foreign women, which Nehemiah calls a "great evil" and a transgression against God. Nehemiah is rebuking the people for repeating the same mistake that led others in Israel astray, insisting that such marriages are a serious violation of their covenant with God.

Nehemiah is speaking to the leaders and people of Jerusalem after discovering that some had married women from other nations, which was against the law given to Israel. He points out that this behavior is not just a small mistake but a major wrongdoing, reminding them of the consequences that came from similar actions in the past. The verse highlights Nehemiah’s concern for faithfulness to God’s commands and the community’s spiritual health.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 13:27

• "hearken" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means to listen or obey. Nehemiah is not just asking if they should listen, but if they should agree or go along with this behavior, stressing the seriousness of the choice.
• "great" (גָּדוֹל, gadol): The word for "great" emphasizes the magnitude of the wrongdoing, showing that this is not a minor issue but a significant breach.
• "evil" (רַע, raʿ): This term for "evil" often refers to moral or ethical wrongdoing, not just a mistake or error, underlining the gravity of the act in God’s eyes.
• "strange" (נָכְרִי, nokhri): This word means "foreign" or "non-Israelite." The focus is on outsiders who do not share Israel’s faith, rather than simply being from another nation.

Why Nehemiah 13:27 matters

• Nehemiah 13:27 clarifies that the main issue is not ethnicity but faithfulness to God’s covenant, since "strange wives" refers to those who might lead Israel away from worshipping God.
• The verse connects directly to the broader theme of Nehemiah 13, where Nehemiah is working to restore the community’s commitment to God after the exile.
• This verse helps explain why Nehemiah takes such strong action against intermarriage, showing his concern for the spiritual well-being and identity of the people.