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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!</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/13-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/16_Neh_13_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 13:25 - Intermarriage Forbidden" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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!" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/nehemiah/13-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/nehemiah/13-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/">Nehemiah</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/13.htm">Chapter 13</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nehemiah/13-24.htm" title="Nehemiah 13:24">◄</a> Nehemiah 13:25 <a href="/nehemiah/13-26.htm" title="Nehemiah 13:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<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"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13.htm">New International Version</a> I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God&#8217s name and said: &#8220You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13.htm">New Living Translation</a> So I confronted them and called down curses on them. I beat some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear in the name of God that they would not let their children intermarry with the pagan people of the land. <a href="/esv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Standard Version</a> And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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! <a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/13.htm">New King James Version</a> So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. <a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So I quarreled with them and cursed them, and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1995</a> So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, &#8220You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a> So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/lsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take up their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/amp/nehemiah/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters [in marriage] to their sons, nor take [any of] their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/csb/nehemiah/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to 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 yourselves! <a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before God and said: &#8220You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves! <a href="/asv/nehemiah/13.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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 for your sons, or for yourselves. <a href="/cev/nehemiah/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> So in my anger, I called down curses on those men. I had them beaten and even pulled out the hair of some of them. Then I made them promise: In the name of God we solemnly promise not to let our sons and daughters marry foreigners. <a href="/erv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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 for your sons, or for yourselves. <a href="/gwt/nehemiah/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> So I reprimanded those Jews, cursed them, beat some of them, and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God: "We won't allow our daughters to marry their sons, and we won't allow their daughters to marry us or our sons." <a href="/gnt/nehemiah/13.htm">Good News Translation</a> I reprimanded the men, called down curses on them, beat them, and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath in God's name that never again would they or their children intermarry with foreigners. <a href="/isv/nehemiah/13.htm">International Standard Version</a> So I rebuked them, cursed them, struck some of their men, tore out their hair, and made them take this oath in the name of God: "You are not to give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/msb/nehemiah/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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! <a href="/net/nehemiah/13.htm">NET Bible</a> So I entered a complaint with them. I called down a curse on them, and I struck some of the men and pulled out their hair. I had them swear by God saying, "You will not marry off your daughters to their sons, and you will not take any of their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! <a href="/nheb/nehemiah/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. <a href="/wbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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 to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves. <a href="/web/nehemiah/13.htm">World English Bible</a> I contended with them, cursed them, struck certain of them, plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And I strive with them, and declare them vile, and strike certain of them, and pluck off their hair, and cause them to swear by God, “You do not give your daughters to their sons, nor do you take of their daughters to your sons, and to yourselves. <a href="/ylt/nehemiah/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And I strive with them, and declare them vile, and smite certain of them, and pluck off their hair, and cause them to swear by God, 'Ye do not give your daughters to their sons, nor do ye take of their daughters to your sons, and to yourselves. <a href="/slt/nehemiah/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And I shall contend with them, and I shall curse them and I shall strike of them men, and I shall make them bald, and cause them to swear by God, If ye shall give your daughters to their sons, and if ye shall lift up from their daughters to your sons and to yourselves.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/nehemiah/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And I chid them, and laid my curse upon them. And I beat some of them, and shaved off their hair, and made them swear by God that they would not give their daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for their sons, nor for themselves, saying: <a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And I put them under oath, and I cursed them. And I struck some of their men, and I shaved off their hair, and I made them swear to God that they would not give their daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for their sons, nor for themselves, saying: <a href="/nabre/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Bible</a> So I reprimanded and cursed them; I beat some of their men and pulled out their hair; and I adjured them by God: “You shall not marry your daughters to their sons nor accept any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves! <a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And I contended with them and cursed them and smote some of them and buried them and made the others swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters to your sons or for yourselves. <a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And I judged with them and I cursed them and I killed some of the men, and I buried them, and I took an oath of them by God: “You shall not give your daughters to their sons and you shall not take from their daughters for your sons! Woe to you!<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/nehemiah/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God: 'Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. <a href="/sep/nehemiah/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And I strove with them and cursed them; and I smote some of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, and ye shall not take of their daughters to your sons. <a href="/parallel/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=4148" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Intermarriage Forbidden</a> …24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. 25<a href="/hebrew/7378.htm" title="7378: wā·’ā·rîḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- Or ruwb; a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e. Grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. Hold a controversy; to defend.">I rebuked them</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·mām (Prep:: 3mp) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7043.htm" title="7043: wā·’ă·qal·lêm (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs:: 3mp) -- To be slight, swift or trifling. A primitive root; to be light, literally Or figuratively.">and called down curses on them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: wā·’ak·keh (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">I beat</a> <a href="/hebrew/mê·hem (Prep-m:: Pro-3mp) -- ">some of</a> <a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’ă·nā·šîm (N-mp) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">these men</a> <a href="/hebrew/4803.htm" title="4803: wā·’em·rə·ṭêm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs:: 3mp) -- A primitive root; to polish; by implication, to make bald, to gall; also, to sharpen.">and pulled out their hair.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7650.htm" title="7650: wā·’aš·bî·‘êm (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-1cs:: 3mp) -- A primitive root; propr. To be complete, but used only as a denominative from sheba'; to seven oneself, i.e. Swear.">Then I made them take an oath</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: bê·lō·hîm (Prep-b:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">before God and said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">“You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ḇə·nō·ṯê·ḵem (N-fpc:: 2mp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">give your daughters</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: tit·tə·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">in marriage</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: liḇ·nê·hem (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">to their sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: wə·’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: tiś·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">or take</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: mib·bə·nō·ṯê·hem (Prep-m:: N-fpc:: 3mp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">their daughters</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: liḇ·nê·ḵem (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">as wives for your sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/wə·lā·ḵem (Conj-w:: Prep:: 2mp) -- ">or for yourselves!</a> 26Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/ezra/9-1.htm">Ezra 9:1-2</a> 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!” <a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a> 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. <a href="/malachi/2-11.htm">Malachi 2:11-12</a> 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. / As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts. <a href="/exodus/34-15.htm">Exodus 34:15-16</a> Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. <a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-2</a> 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. <a href="/judges/3-5.htm">Judges 3:5-6</a> 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. <a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-17</a> 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.” ... <a href="/1_corinthians/5-9.htm">1 Corinthians 5:9-11</a> I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. <a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a> A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. <a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12-13</a> For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you. <a href="/2_kings/17-33.htm">2 Kings 17:33-34</a> 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. <a href="/1_kings/21-25.htm">1 Kings 21:25-26</a> (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. / He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.) <a href="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2-3</a> I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. / I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. <a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a> Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9-12</a> But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. / Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.I contended.<a href="/nehemiah/13-11.htm">Nehemiah 13:11,17</a> 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… <a href="/proverbs/28-4.htm">Proverbs 28:4</a> They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.cursed.<a href="/nehemiah/5-13.htm">Nehemiah 5:13</a> Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.<a href="/deuteronomy/27-14.htm">Deuteronomy 27:14-26</a> And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, … <a href="/psalms/15-4.htm">Psalm 15:4</a> In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.smote.<a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm">Deuteronomy 25:2,3</a> And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number… <a href="/ezra/7-26.htm">Ezra 7:26</a> And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.plucked.<a href="/isaiah/50-6.htm">Isaiah 50:6</a> I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.made them.<a href="/nehemiah/10-29.htm">Nehemiah 10:29,30</a> They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; … <a href="/deuteronomy/6-13.htm">Deuteronomy 6:13</a> Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.<a href="/2_chronicles/15-12.htm">2 Chronicles 15:12-15</a> And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; … Ye shall not.<a href="/exodus/34-16.htm">Exodus 34:16</a> And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.<a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3</a> Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/34-7.htm">Beat</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-17.htm">Contended</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/2-7.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-24.htm">Curses</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-30.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/ezra/9-3.htm">Hair</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-29.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/ezra/9-3.htm">Plucked</a> <a href="/ezra/9-3.htm">Pulled</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-17.htm">Rebuked</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/33-25.htm">Smote</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-23.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-12.htm">Swear</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-6.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/18-42.htm">Beat</a> <a href="/job/31-13.htm">Contended</a> <a href="/job/1-5.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/psalms/10-3.htm">Curses</a> <a href="/job/1-2.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/job/1-20.htm">Hair</a> <a href="/job/31-30.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/job/4-21.htm">Plucked</a> <a href="/job/4-21.htm">Pulled</a> <a href="/psalms/9-5.htm">Rebuked</a> <a href="/esther/9-5.htm">Smote</a> <a href="/esther/9-5.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/psalms/24-4.htm">Swear</a> <a href="/job/13-8.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 13</div>1. <a href="/nehemiah/13-1.htm">Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.</a> 4. <a href="/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.</a> 10. <a href="/nehemiah/13-10.htm">He reforms the offices in the house of God;</a> 15. <a href="/nehemiah/13-15.htm">the violation of the Sabbath;</a> 23. <a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">and the marriages with the strange wives.</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>I rebuked them and called down curses on them. Nehemiah's rebuke reflects his role as a leader committed to upholding the covenant between God and Israel. The act of calling down curses is reminiscent of the covenantal blessings and curses outlined in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, where obedience brings blessings and disobedience results in curses. This reflects the seriousness of the people's transgressions, particularly in marrying foreign women, which was against the Law (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>). Nehemiah's actions are in line with the prophetic tradition of calling the people back to faithfulness, similar to the actions of prophets like Elijah and Jeremiah.I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. This physical punishment underscores the gravity of the situation and Nehemiah's zeal for God's law. Such actions were not uncommon in ancient Near Eastern cultures as a form of public humiliation and discipline. The pulling out of hair is also mentioned in <a href="/ezra/9-3.htm">Ezra 9:3</a>, where Ezra reacts to the same issue of intermarriage. This reflects the cultural and religious importance of maintaining purity and separation from pagan practices, which were seen as a threat to Israel's identity and relationship with God.Then I made them take an oath before God and said, Oaths were solemn promises made before God, binding the individuals to their word under divine witness. This reflects the seriousness with which Nehemiah approached the issue, ensuring that the people understood the spiritual implications of their actions. The use of oaths is a common biblical theme, seen in <a href="/genesis/24-3.htm">Genesis 24:3</a> and <a href="/1_samuel/20-16.htm">1 Samuel 20:16</a>, where oaths are used to establish trust and commitment to God's commands.“You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! This command directly addresses the issue of intermarriage with foreign nations, which was prohibited in the Mosaic Law (<a href="/exodus/34-16.htm">Exodus 34:16</a>, <a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>). The concern was not ethnic but religious, as intermarriage often led to the worship of foreign gods, as seen in the case of Solomon (<a href="/1_kings/11.htm">1 Kings 11:1-4</a>). Nehemiah's insistence on this point highlights the need for Israel to remain distinct and faithful to God, preserving their covenant relationship and avoiding the syncretism that had led to past judgments. This also foreshadows the New Testament call for believers to be separate from worldly influences (<a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-18</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/n/nehemiah.htm">Nehemiah</a> The central figure in this passage, Nehemiah was a Jewish leader and governor of Jerusalem who led the rebuilding of the city's walls and instituted religious reforms. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a> The people of Israel who had returned from exile and were struggling to maintain their distinct identity and religious practices. 3. <a href="/topical/i/intermarriage.htm">Intermarriage</a> The event in question involves the Israelites marrying foreign women, which was against the Mosaic Law and threatened their religious purity. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The city where these events took place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and identity. 5. <a href="/topical/f/foreign_nations.htm">Foreign Nations</a> The surrounding peoples whose daughters were being married by the Israelites, leading to the dilution of Jewish religious practices.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/z/zeal_for_god's_commands.htm">Zeal for God's Commands</a> Nehemiah's actions demonstrate a fervent commitment to upholding God's laws. We should be equally zealous in our obedience to God's Word. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_community_purity.htm">The Importance of Community Purity</a> The passage highlights the need for the community of believers to maintain spiritual purity and distinctiveness from the world. <a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_accountability.htm">Leadership and Accountability</a> Nehemiah's leadership shows the importance of holding others accountable to God's standards, even when it requires difficult actions. <a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_compromise.htm">The Dangers of Compromise</a> Intermarriage with foreign nations symbolizes compromise with worldly values, which can lead to spiritual decline. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_discipline.htm">The Role of Discipline</a> Nehemiah's harsh measures remind us that discipline, though difficult, is sometimes necessary to correct and guide God's people.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 13</a> <a href="/q/why_does_nehemiah_use_force_in_13_25.htm">Why does Nehemiah resort to physical force (Nehemiah 13:25) to enforce marriage laws, and doesn’t this contradict other scriptures urging gentleness and compassion? </a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_nehemiah_5_7's_contradiction.htm">Nehemiah 5:7 suggests interest-taking was widespread despite Mosaic Law prohibitions (e.g., Exodus 22:25); how can this contradiction be reconciled?</a> <a href="/q/do_neh._1_5-7_and_ot_agree_on_sin,_covenant.htm">In Nehemiah 1:5-7, are the concepts of collective sin and covenant consistent with other Old Testament texts or do they create contradictions?</a> <a href="/q/can_one_be_saved_without_predestination.htm">Did God separate from Israel?</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>(25) Cursed them.--Nehemiah simply echoed the covenant sanction on this very point (<a href="/context/nehemiah/10-29.htm" title="They joined to their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;">Nehemiah 10:29-30</a>).Certain of them.--Some were selected for special punishment and humiliation. Ezra, on a like occasion, humbled himself by plucking off the hair of his own head (<a href="/ezra/9-3.htm" title="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 astonished.">Ezra 9:3</a>). Then they were obliged to repeat the oath of the covenant.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 25. - I contended with them, and cursed them. Or, "reviled them," as Gesenius and Professor Lee explain. And smote certain of them. i.e. "had some of them beaten." Some understand by this that the offenders underwent the bastinado by sentence of a court (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm">Deuteronomy 25:2</a>); others think Nehemiah had them struck informally by his attendants. This latter explanation 'is supported by the following clause, since "plucking out the hair" was never a legal punishment. Made them swear by God. Literally, "swore them by God," i.e. dictated the words, and made them repeat the formula and accept the oath. Saying, Ye shall not give. Literally, "If ye shall give,' etc. Nehemiah made them swear that they should intermarry with the heathen the curse of God should fall upon them. <a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>I rebuked them וָאָרִ֤יב (wā·’ā·rîḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7378.htm">Strong's 7378: </a> To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend and called down curses on them. וָאֲקַֽלְלֵ֔ם (wā·’ă·qal·lêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7043.htm">Strong's 7043: </a> To be slight, swift or trifling I beat וָאַכֶּ֥ה (wā·’ak·keh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> To strike some of מֵהֶ֛ם (mê·hem) Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They these men אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (’ă·nā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person and pulled out their hair. וָֽאֶמְרְטֵ֑ם (wā·’em·rə·ṭêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4803.htm">Strong's 4803: </a> To make smooth, bare or bald, to scour, polish Then I made them take an oath וָאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣ם (wā·’aš·bî·‘êm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7650.htm">Strong's 7650: </a> To seven oneself, swear before God [and said]: בֵּֽאלֹהִ֗ים (bê·lō·hîm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative “You must not אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not give your daughters בְנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ (ḇə·nō·ṯê·ḵem) Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> A daughter in marriage תִּתְּנ֤וּ (tit·tə·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set to their sons לִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם (liḇ·nê·hem) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son or take תִּשְׂאוּ֙ (tiś·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> To lift, carry, take their daughters מִבְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם (mib·bə·nō·ṯê·hem) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> A daughter as wives for your sons לִבְנֵיכֶ֖ם (liḇ·nê·ḵem) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son or for yourselves! וְלָכֶֽם׃ (wə·lā·ḵem) Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-25.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 13:25 I contended with them and cursed them (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/13-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/13-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:26" /></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>