Nehemiah 13:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

Complete Jewish Bible:

It was also at that time, when they were reading in the scroll of Moshe, that it was found written that no 'Amoni or Mo'avi may ever enter the assembly of God,

Berean Standard Bible:

At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

American Standard Version:

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

On that day^{H3117} they read^{H7121} in the book^{H5612} of Moses^{H4872} in the audience^{H241} of the people^{H5971}; and therein was found^{H4672} written^{H3789}, that the Ammonite^{H5984} and the Moabite^{H4125} should not come^{H935} into the congregation^{H6951} of God^{H430} for^{H5704} ever^{H5769};

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Commentary for Nehemiah 13:1

Nehemiah 13:1 is set during a significant period in Jewish history, specifically after the Babylonian exile when the Jews had returned to Jerusalem and were in the process of rebuilding their city and religious identity. The verse occurs towards the end of the book of Nehemiah, which recounts the efforts of Nehemiah, a Persian-appointed governor, to restore the walls of Jerusalem and reform the social and religious practices of the Jewish community.

In this verse, the people are gathered to hear the reading of the "book of Moses," which refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, traditionally ascribed to Moses. During this public reading, a specific law is discovered which prohibits Ammonites and Moabites from entering the assembly of God. This law is based on the historical enmity between these nations and Israel, as well as their failure to offer bread and water to the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land, and the Moabites' hiring of Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-6).

The historical context of this verse reflects the post-exilic community's attempt to reestablish their distinct identity and adhere strictly to the laws of Moses, which included maintaining clear boundaries between themselves and other nations. The exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites was part of a broader effort to preserve the purity of the Israelite religion and people in a time when their national and spiritual survival was at stake. This verse underscores themes of covenant faithfulness, religious reform, and the importance of Torah observance in the life of the returning exiles.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5612
   There are 174 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סֵפֶר
   Transliteration: çêpher
   Pronunciation: say'-fer
   Description: or (feminine) סִפְרָה; (Psalm 56:8 (אֲבֵדָה)), from סָפַר; properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book; bill, book, evidence, [idiom] learn(-ed) (-ing), letter, register, scroll.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
5. Strong's Number: H241
   There are 652 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֹזֶן
   Transliteration: ʼôzen
   Pronunciation: o'-zen
   Description: from אָזַן; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man); [phrase] advertise, audience, [phrase] displease, ear, hearing, [phrase] show.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4672
   There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָצָא
   Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3789
   There are 212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּתַב
   Transliteration: kâthab
   Pronunciation: kaw-thab'
   Description: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe); describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).
   
9. Strong's Number: H5984
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַמּוֹנִי
   Transliteration: ʻAmmôwnîy
   Pronunciation: am-mo-nee'
   Description: patronymically from עַמּוֹן; an Ammonite or (the adjective) Ammonitish; Ammonite(-s).
   
10. Strong's Number: H4125
    There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוֹאָבִי
    Transliteration: Môwʼâbîy
    Pronunciation: mo-aw-bee'
    Description: feminine מוֹאָבִיָּה; or מוֹאָבִיתxlit Môwâbîyth corrected to Môwʼâbîyth; patronymical from מוֹאָב; a Moabite or Moabitess, i.e. a descendant from Moab; (woman) of Moab, Moabite(-ish, -ss).
    
11. Strong's Number: H935
    There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בּוֹא
    Transliteration: bôwʼ
    Pronunciation: bo
    Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6951
    There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָהָל
    Transliteration: qâhâl
    Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
    Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude.
    
13. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
    
14. Strong's Number: H5704
    There are 97 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַד
    Transliteration: ʻad
    Pronunciation: ad
    Description: properly, the same as עַד (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with); against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.
    
15. Strong's Number: H5769
    There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עוֹלָם
    Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
    Pronunciation: o-lawm'
    Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.