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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Furthermore, half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of some other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/13.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but only the language of his own people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but only the tongue of his own people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak [Hebrew] the language of Judah, but only the language of his own people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/13.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />About half of their children could not speak Hebrew--they spoke only the language of Ashdod or some other foreign language. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or one of the other languages, but they couldn't understand the language of Judah well enough to speak it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/13.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or some other language and didn't know how to speak our language. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/13.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Furthermore, their children spoke half of the time in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Judah. Instead, they spoke in the languages of various peoples. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/13.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod (or the language of one of the other peoples mentioned) and were unable to speak the language of Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Judean language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/13.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And of their sons, half are speaking Ashdoditish—and are not knowing to speak Jewish—and according to the language of people and people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And of their sons, half are speaking Ashdoditish -- and are not knowing to speak Jewish -- and according to the language of people and people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And their sons half speaking the Ashdod dialect, and they not knowing to speak the Judean dialect, and according to the tongue of people and people.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And their children spoke half in the speech of Azotus, and could not speak the Jews' language, but they spoke according to the language of this and that people. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And their sons spoke partly in the speech of Ashdod, and they did not know how to speak the Jewish language, and they were speaking according to the language of one people or another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Of their children, half spoke the language of Ashdod, or of one of the other peoples, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke the language of various peoples.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod and in the other half they could not intelligently speak in the Jewish language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And their children were speaking half Ashdodite language and half did not know how to speak the Judean language except according to the tongue of the Gentiles.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and did not know how to speak in the Jewish language.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=4140" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Intermarriage Forbidden</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23</span>In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. <span class="reftext">24</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2677.htm" title="2677: ḥă·ṣî (N-ms) -- Half. From chatsah; the half or middle.">Half</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ū·ḇə·nê·hem (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">of their children</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: mə·ḏab·bêr (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">spoke</a> <a href="/hebrew/797.htm" title="797: ’aš·dō·w·ḏîṯ (N-proper-ms) -- In the language of Ashdod. Feminine of 'Ashdowdiy; in the language of Ashdod.">the language of Ashdod</a> <a href="/hebrew/3956.htm" title="3956: wə·ḵil·šō·wn (Conj-w, Prep-k:: N-csc) -- Tongue. Or lashon; also feminine lshonah; from lashan; the tongue, used literally, and figuratively.">or of</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am (N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the other peoples,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: wā·‘ām (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5234.htm" title="5234: mak·kî·rîm (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-mp) -- To regard, recognize. ">but could</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: wə·’ê·nām (Conj-w:: Adv:: 3mp) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">not</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: lə·ḏab·bêr (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">speak</a> <a href="/hebrew/3066.htm" title="3066: yə·hū·ḏîṯ (N-proper-fs) -- Jewish. Feminine of Yhuwdiy; the Jewish language.">the language of Judah.</a> </span><span class="reftext">25</span>I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/9-1.htm">Ezra 9:1-2</a></span><br />After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a></span><br />Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-2</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-11.htm">Malachi 2:11</a></span><br />Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/3-5.htm">Judges 3:5-6</a></span><br />Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">2 Kings 17:24</a></span><br />Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-33.htm">2 Kings 17:33-34</a></span><br />They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/30-7.htm">2 Chronicles 30:7-8</a></span><br />Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see. / Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-6.htm">Isaiah 2:6</a></span><br />For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines; they strike hands with the children of foreigners.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/7-8.htm">Hosea 7:8-9</a></span><br />Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake. / Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-17</a></span><br />Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Ephesians 2:12</a></span><br />remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/2-11.htm">Galatians 2:11-14</a></span><br />When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. / For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. / The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/10-28.htm">Acts 10:28</a></span><br />He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.</p><p class="hdg">could not speak.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zephaniah/3-9.htm">Zephaniah 3:9</a></b></br> For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nehemiah/11-14.htm">Able</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">Ashdod</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-16.htm">Children</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-40.htm">Half</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-8.htm">Jewish</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-26.htm">Language</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-31.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-13.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-19.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-18.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-19.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-21.htm">Use</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/4-2.htm">Able</a> <a href="/isaiah/20-1.htm">Ashdod</a> <a href="/esther/3-13.htm">Children</a> <a href="/esther/5-3.htm">Half</a> <a href="/esther/6-13.htm">Jewish</a> <a href="/esther/3-6.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/esther/2-6.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/esther/3-12.htm">Language</a> <a href="/esther/1-11.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/esther/1-13.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/esther/1-22.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/job/6-26.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/esther/6-14.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/job/19-5.htm">Use</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 13</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-1.htm">Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-10.htm">He reforms the offices in the house of God;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-15.htm">the violation of the Sabbath;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">and the marriages with the strange wives.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/13.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/nehemiah/13.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod</b><br>This phrase highlights the influence of foreign cultures on the Jewish community. Ashdod was one of the major Philistine cities, and its language would have been distinct from Hebrew. The Philistines were long-time adversaries of Israel, and their presence in the region was a constant source of tension. The fact that Jewish children were speaking the language of Ashdod indicates a significant level of cultural assimilation and a departure from their religious and cultural heritage. This situation reflects the broader issue of intermarriage with foreign peoples, which Nehemiah was addressing. The language barrier also symbolizes a spiritual and cultural divide, as language is a key component of identity and religious practice.<p><b>or of the other peoples</b><br>This phrase suggests that the problem was not limited to Ashdod but included other surrounding nations. The Israelites were surrounded by various peoples, such as the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, each with their own languages and customs. The influence of these cultures posed a threat to the distinct identity of the Jewish people, which was rooted in their covenant with God. The Torah explicitly warned against adopting the practices of surrounding nations (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>), emphasizing the importance of maintaining a distinct identity. The presence of multiple foreign languages among the children indicates a widespread issue of cultural and religious compromise.<p><b>but could not speak the language of Judah</b><br>The inability to speak the language of Judah, which was Hebrew, signifies a loss of connection to their heritage and religious traditions. Hebrew was not only the language of daily life but also the language of the Scriptures and worship. This loss would have made it difficult for the children to understand the Law of Moses, participate in religious ceremonies, and fully engage with their community's spiritual life. The language of Judah was a unifying factor for the Jewish people, and its erosion threatened their unity and faithfulness to God. This situation underscores the importance of language in preserving cultural and religious identity, as well as the challenges faced by the Jewish community in maintaining their distinctiveness amidst foreign influences.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/n/nehemiah.htm">Nehemiah</a></b><br>The central figure in the book, Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who played a crucial role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and reforming the community. His leadership was marked by a strong commitment to God's laws and the spiritual renewal of the people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/c/children_of_mixed_marriages.htm">Children of Mixed Marriages</a></b><br>The children mentioned in this verse were born to Jewish men and foreign women. Their inability to speak the language of Judah symbolizes a deeper issue of cultural and religious assimilation.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/l/language_of_ashdod.htm">Language of Ashdod</a></b><br>Ashdod was one of the Philistine cities. The reference to the language of Ashdod indicates the influence of foreign cultures and religions on the Jewish community.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/l/language_of_judah.htm">Language of Judah</a></b><br>This refers to Hebrew, the language of the Jewish people and their scriptures. Speaking Hebrew was crucial for maintaining religious and cultural identity.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_assimilation.htm">Cultural Assimilation</a></b><br>The event highlights the challenge of maintaining a distinct religious and cultural identity amidst foreign influences.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_language_in_faith.htm">The Importance of Language in Faith</a></b><br>Language is not just a means of communication but a vessel for transmitting faith and values. Ensuring that children understand the language of their faith is crucial for spiritual continuity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_cultural_assimilation.htm">Guarding Against Cultural Assimilation</a></b><br>Believers are called to be in the world but not of it. This requires vigilance in maintaining distinct Christian values and practices amidst a secular culture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_parents_in_spiritual_education.htm">The Role of Parents in Spiritual Education</a></b><br>Parents have a responsibility to teach their children the language and principles of their faith, ensuring that they grow up with a strong spiritual foundation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The faith community must support families in nurturing the next generation, providing resources and encouragement for spiritual growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reform_and_renewal.htm">Reform and Renewal</a></b><br>Like Nehemiah, believers must be willing to take bold steps to address issues that threaten the integrity of their faith community.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 13</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_one_be_saved_without_predestination.htm">Did God separate from Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/1_chronicles_14_5-7__exaggeration_or_culture.htm">1 Chronicles 14:5-7 - Does the large number of children born to David in Jerusalem suggest an exaggerated account or a cultural practice at odds with later moral teachings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_artifacts_confirm_2_kings_24_13.htm">Does 2 Kings 24:13 match external evidence about the treasures taken from the temple and palace, and have any such artifacts been found?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_jehoshaphat's_alliance_with_ahab_contradict_the_bible.htm">In 2 Chronicles 18:1-3, does Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab contradict biblical teachings against partnering with evil?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nehemiah/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(24) <span class= "bld">Half in the speech of</span> <span class= "bld">Ashdod.</span>--A mixture of Philistine and Aramaic.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 24.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod</span>. Some understand the writer to mean that half of the children in a family spoke the tongue of the father, and half that of the mother. But many of the <span class="accented">best</span> Hebraists prefer the sense expressed by our translators, viz., that all the children spoke a jargon half Ashdodite and half Aramaic. The Philistine language is said to have resembled the Egyptian (Hieronym., 'Comment. in Esaiam,' 19:18). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Half</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲצִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·ṣî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2677.htm">Strong's 2677: </a> </span><span class="str2">The half, middle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of their children</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְנֵיהֶ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·nê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">spoke</span><br /><span class="heb">מְדַבֵּ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ḏab·bêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the language of Ashdod</span><br /><span class="heb">אַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית</span> <span class="translit">(’aš·dō·w·ḏîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_797.htm">Strong's 797: </a> </span><span class="str2">In the language of Ashdod</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or of</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵil·šō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">The tongue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the other peoples,</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(‘am)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but could not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֵינָ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ê·nām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">speak</span><br /><span class="heb">לְדַבֵּ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḏab·bêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Hebrew.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדִ֑ית</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hū·ḏîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3066.htm">Strong's 3066: </a> </span><span class="str2">The Jewish -- language</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/13-24.htm">Nehemiah 13:24 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/13-24.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 13:24 And their children spoke half (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/13-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:25" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>