Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

NEHEMIAH 13:3KJV
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Nehemiah 13:3 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 13:3 mean?

Nehemiah 13:3 describes how the people of Israel responded after hearing a public reading of the law. They separated from their community a group the KJV calls “the mixed multitude.” The verse presents their action as a response to what they had heard.

The narrator reports the action without recording a speech. After the command concerning Ammonites and Moabites in verses 1–2, the phrase “mixed multitude” describes a broader group identified as being of mixed origin.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 13:3

  • “law” — תּוֹרָה (torah): This word can mean instruction or law. Here it refers to the written instruction the people had heard read aloud.
  • “multitude” — עֵרֶב (ʿerev): This word can refer to a mixed group of people. It helps explain why the KJV describes the multitude as “mixed.”

Why Nehemiah 13:3 matters

  • The action follows a particular reading, not a general discussion of outsiders. Verses 1–2 connect the reading to Ammon and Moab and to their earlier treatment of Israel.
  • The words “mixed multitude” do not name each person or describe each family affected. The verse gives a group description rather than a list of individuals.
  • The wider passage distinguishes the public response in verse 3 from a later incident involving Tobiah. In verses 4–9, Nehemiah reports clearing Tobiah’s belongings from a room in the house of God.

Where else these words appear

“multitude” Hebrew H6154 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
  • Leviticus 13:51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.
  • Leviticus 13:56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:

“separated” Hebrew H914 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
  • Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
  • Ezra 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,