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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 />When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When this passage of the Law was read, all those of foreign descent were immediately excluded from the assembly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/13.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So when they heard the Law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So it came about, that when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So when they heard the law, they separated all foreigners from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When the Jews heard the law, they separated from Israel all who were of foreign descent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/13.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Following the reading of the Law of Moses, the people of Israel started sending away anyone who had any foreign ancestors. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />After the people heard this Teaching, they separated the non-Israelites from the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/13.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When the people of Israel heard this law read, they excluded all foreigners from the community. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/13.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When they heard the Law, they separated all those of foreign descent from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/13.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When they heard the law, they removed from Israel all who were of mixed ancestry. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/13.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, at their hearing the Law, that they separate all the mixed people from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass, at their hearing the law, that they separate all the mixed people from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be in their hearing the law, and they will separate all the mixture from Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated every stranger from Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now it happened that, when they had heard the law, they separated every foreigner from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When they had heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Now when they had heard the words of the law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Then when they heard the words of the Torah, they set apart all the mixed multitude from Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the alien mixture.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they were separated, <i>even</i> every alien in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/13-3.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=3867" 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">Foreigners Excluded</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing). <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">As soon as</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: kə·šā·mə·‘ām (Prep-k:: V-Qal-Inf:: 3mp) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">the people heard</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8451.htm" title="8451: hat·tō·w·rāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Direction, instruction, law. Or torah; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.">this law,</a> <a href="/hebrew/914.htm" title="914: way·yaḇ·dî·lū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To be divided, separate. A primitive root; to divide.">they excluded</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: mî·yiś·rā·’êl (Prep-m:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">from Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: ḵāl (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/6154.htm" title="6154: ‘ê·reḇ (N-ms) -- Arabia -- mixture, mixed company. Or mereb,; from arab; the web; also a mixture.">of foreign descent.</a> </span><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="/deuteronomy/23-3.htm">Deuteronomy 23:3-6</a></span><br />No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. / For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><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="/nehemiah/9-2.htm">Nehemiah 9:2</a></span><br />Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-38.htm">Exodus 12:38</a></span><br />And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4</a></span><br />Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat?<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="/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/17-33.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="/isaiah/52-11.htm">Isaiah 52:11</a></span><br />Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-38.htm">Ezekiel 20:38</a></span><br />And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/25-32.htm">Matthew 25:32-33</a></span><br />All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.<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="/revelation/18-4.htm">Revelation 18:4</a></span><br />Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.<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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-9.htm">John 4:9</a></span><br />“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.</p><p class="hdg">when they.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/19-7.htm">Psalm 19:7-11</a></b></br> The law of the LORD <i>is</i> perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD <i>is</i> sure, making wise the simple… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/119-9.htm">Psalm 119:9,11</a></b></br> BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed <i>thereto</i> according to thy word… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/6-23.htm">Proverbs 6:23</a></b></br> For the commandment <i>is</i> a lamp; and the law <i>is</i> light; and reproofs of instruction <i>are</i> the way of life:</p><p class="hdg">that they.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/9-2.htm">Nehemiah 9:2</a></b></br> And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/10-28.htm">Nehemiah 10:28</a></b></br> And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/10-11.htm">Ezra 10:11</a></b></br> Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.</p><p class="hdg">the mixed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/12-38.htm">Exodus 12:38</a></b></br> And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, <i>even</i> very much cattle.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4</a></b></br> And the mixt multitude that <i>was</i> among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_samuel/1-13.htm">Alien</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-2.htm">Descent</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-64.htm">Excluded</a> <a href="/ezra/10-44.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-2.htm">Foreigners</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-43.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-1.htm">Hearing</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-44.htm">Law</a> <a href="/ezra/9-2.htm">Mixed</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/9-30.htm">Mixture</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-7.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-2.htm">Separate</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-28.htm">Separated</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/15-19.htm">Alien</a> <a href="/esther/6-13.htm">Descent</a> <a href="/luke/13-28.htm">Excluded</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-26.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-30.htm">Foreigners</a> <a href="/esther/1-18.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/esther/1-18.htm">Hearing</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-18.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-28.htm">Law</a> <a href="/job/24-6.htm">Mixed</a> <a href="/job/24-5.htm">Mixture</a> <a href="/esther/5-11.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/job/4-11.htm">Separate</a> <a href="/job/41-17.htm">Separated</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>As soon as the people heard this law</b><br>This phrase indicates a prompt response from the people upon hearing the law. The law referred to here is likely the command found in <a href="/deuteronomy/23-3.htm">Deuteronomy 23:3-6</a>, which prohibits Ammonites and Moabites from entering the assembly of the Lord. This immediate action reflects a strong commitment to obedience and a desire to align with God's commands. Historically, this period follows the return from Babylonian exile, a time when the Israelites were particularly focused on re-establishing their identity and purity as God's chosen people.<p><b>they excluded from Israel</b><br>The act of exclusion signifies a separation to maintain the holiness of the community. This was not merely a social or ethnic separation but a spiritual one, intended to preserve the religious integrity of Israel. The exclusion was a practical application of the law to prevent the influence of foreign practices and idolatry, which had previously led Israel astray. This action echoes the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah, who were instrumental in restoring the covenant relationship between God and His people.<p><b>all of foreign descent</b><br>The term "foreign descent" refers to those who were not part of the covenant community of Israel. This exclusion was not based on ethnicity alone but on religious and cultural practices that were contrary to the worship of Yahweh. The historical context includes the intermarriage with foreign nations, which had introduced idolatry and compromised the distinctiveness of Israel's worship. This separation is reminiscent of the call to holiness found throughout the Old Testament, such as in <a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Leviticus 20:26</a>, where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy.<br><br>In summary, <a href="/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3</a> reflects a decisive moment of reform and commitment to God's law, emphasizing the importance of spiritual purity and obedience. This action is part of a broader narrative of restoration and covenant renewal, highlighting the ongoing struggle to maintain faithfulness amidst external 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 the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the spiritual renewal of the people. He was a man of prayer and action, deeply committed to God's laws.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of Israel who had returned from exile and were in the process of re-establishing their identity and religious practices in Jerusalem.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreigners.htm">Foreigners</a></b><br>Non-Israelites living among the Israelites. In this context, they were those who did not share in the covenant relationship with God and whose presence could lead to religious and cultural compromise.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events took place, significant as the spiritual and political center of Jewish life.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_law.htm">The Law</a></b><br>Refers to the Mosaic Law, which the Israelites were rediscovering and recommitting to under Nehemiah's leadership. This law included commands about separation from foreign influences to maintain purity of worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/commitment_to_god's_word.htm">Commitment to God's Word</a></b><br>The Israelites' response to the law highlights the importance of aligning our lives with Scripture. We must be willing to make difficult decisions to obey God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_purity.htm">Spiritual Purity</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were called to separate from foreign influences, Christians today are called to maintain spiritual purity by avoiding influences that lead us away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a></b><br>The collective action of the Israelites shows the power of community in upholding God's standards. Believers should encourage and hold each other accountable in their walk with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_influence.htm">Cultural Influence</a></b><br>The passage challenges us to consider how cultural influences can impact our faith and to be vigilant in guarding against those that compromise our relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/renewal_and_reform.htm">Renewal and Reform</a></b><br>Nehemiah's leadership in reforming the community serves as a model for spiritual renewal. We should seek leaders who guide us back to biblical principles and practices.<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/how_is_ruth_accepted_despite_nehemiah_13.htm">How can we reconcile Nehemiah 13:1–3 banning Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly with earlier passages showing Ruth, a Moabite, fully accepted among God’s people? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_separate_if_some_converted.htm">Ezra 10:44 - How can a just God require separating from wives and children if some may have converted to the faith?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_later_mentions_fit_moab's_prophecy.htm">If Jeremiah 48:42 says Moab will cease to be a people, how do later mentions of Moab or its descendants fit with this prophecy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_1_tim_4_13_fit_in_a_pluralistic_society.htm">How does 1 Timothy 4:13's emphasis on public Scripture reading fit in a diverse, pluralistic society that questions biblical authority?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They separated from Israel all the mixed multitude</span>. Some lengthy process, like that pursued by Ezra (<a href="/ezra/10-10.htm">Ezra 10:10-19</a>), is probably glanced at in these words, and again in the opening words of ver. 30 - "Thus cleansed I them from all strangers." The rebukes of Nehemiah (vers. 25-27) did not suffice to produce a voluntary putting away of the foreign wives. Judicial proceedings had to be taken, and the "mixed multitude" separated off by authority. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/13-3.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">As soon as</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[the people] heard</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּשָׁמְעָ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(kə·šā·mə·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this law,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַתּוֹרָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(hat·tō·w·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8451.htm">Strong's 8451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Direction, instruction, law</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they excluded</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaḇ·dî·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_914.htm">Strong's 914: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be divided, separate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃</span> <span class="translit">(mî·yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָל־</span> <span class="translit">(ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of foreign descent.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵ֖רֶב</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·reḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6154.htm">Strong's 6154: </a> </span><span class="str2">Arabia -- mixture, mixed company</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/13-3.htm">Nehemiah 13:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/13-3.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 13:3 It came to pass when they had (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/13-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/13-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:4" /></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>