Ezra 10:31

KJV

And [of] the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

KJV (with Strong's)

And of the sons {H1121} of Harim {H2766}; Eliezer {H461}, Ishijah {H3449}, Malchiah {H4441}, Shemaiah {H8098}, Shimeon {H8095},

Complete Jewish Bible

of the descendants of Harim: Eli'ezer, Yishiyah, Malkiyah, Sh'ma'yah, Shim'on,

Berean Standard Bible

From the descendants of Harim:

American Standard Version

Andofthe sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:31 is a specific entry within a comprehensive list detailing individuals from the post-exilic community who had taken foreign wives and, in an act of profound corporate and individual repentance, committed to putting them away. This verse meticulously names five men—Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, and Shimeon—all identified as members of the "sons of Harim," underscoring the widespread nature of the sin of intermarriage and the rigorous, personal accountability required for the community's spiritual restoration and covenant faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:31 is situated within the lengthy catalog of men (verses 18-44) who had transgressed by marrying foreign women and subsequently agreed to separate from them. This list follows Ezra's fervent prayer of confession and lament in [Ezra 9](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - Ezra's Prayer of Confession"), prompted by the discovery of widespread intermarriage. Chapter 10 opens with the people's collective response of repentance, leading to a covenant to put away their foreign wives. The detailed enumeration of names, including those in [Ezra 10:31](/ezra/10-31 "Ezra 10:31 - Sons of Harim"), serves as a solemn record of this painful but necessary act of obedience, emphasizing the thoroughness of the reform and the personal commitment involved in restoring the community's purity before God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period described in Ezra is the post-exilic era, specifically during the reign of Artaxerxes I (circa 458 BC). The Jewish people had returned from seventy years of Babylonian captivity, a punishment largely attributed to their idolatry and unfaithfulness to God's covenant. The command against intermarriage with pagan nations, articulated in passages like [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage"), was not merely about ethnic purity but spiritual preservation. Such marriages invariably led to the adoption of foreign deities and practices, compromising Israel's unique identity as God's chosen people and their mission to be a holy nation. The drastic measure of putting away wives and children, while culturally harsh by modern standards, was seen as a desperate, radical step to prevent a recurrence of the apostasy that led to the exile and to preserve the spiritual integrity of the fragile, nascent community.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, as part of the larger narrative, contributes significantly to several key themes. It highlights **Radical Obedience**, illustrating the painful sacrifices required to align with God's commands, as seen in the willingness of these men to make incredibly difficult personal choices for the sake of the community's spiritual health. It underscores **Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating a renewed commitment to the Mosaic Law and the covenant relationship with Yahweh, without which the community risked losing its distinct identity and purpose. Furthermore, it emphasizes **Corporate and Individual Repentance**, showing that while the sin was widespread, the act of repentance was deeply personal for each named individual, highlighting accountability and the thoroughness of the reform. Finally, the overarching theme of **Spiritual Purity** is paramount, as the separation from foreign influences was deemed essential for the post-exilic community's survival and its ability to fulfill its role as a light to the nations, avoiding the spiritual contamination that had plagued their ancestors.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Harim (Hebrew, _Ḥārîm'_):** This refers to a prominent priestly family or clan among the returned exiles, listed among those who returned with Zerubbabel in [Ezra 2:39](/ezra/2-39 "Ezra 2:39 - Priestly Families Returning from Exile"). Their inclusion in this list of those who had intermarried underscores that the sin was not confined to any particular social stratum but was pervasive, even affecting those from leading families who were expected to uphold the Law.
* **Sons (Hebrew, _bānîm'_):** While literally meaning "sons," in this context, it signifies descendants or members of a particular family, clan, or guild. The phrase "sons of Harim" identifies these individuals as belonging to this specific lineage or group, emphasizing their communal identity and the collective responsibility that came with their family name. The naming of specific "sons" within this clan highlights the individual accountability within the broader corporate repentance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And [of] the sons of Harim;":** This introductory phrase clearly identifies the family or clan affiliation of the men who follow. The bracketed "of" in the KJV indicates a supplied word for clarity, confirming that the subsequent names are members or descendants of the Harim clan. This structure is consistent throughout the list in Ezra 10, categorizing the offenders by their ancestral houses, which would have been crucial for record-keeping and establishing legitimacy in post-exilic society.
* **"Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,":** These are the five specific individuals from the clan of Harim who were identified as having taken foreign wives and subsequently agreed to put them away. The meticulous naming of each person underscores the gravity of the situation and the personal nature of the commitment to repentance. It suggests a thorough investigation and a public acknowledgment of their sin and their decision to comply with the covenant. Each name represents a personal story of conviction and costly obedience.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Ezra 10:31, and indeed throughout verses 18-44, is **Catalog** or **List**. The meticulous enumeration of names serves several purposes: it provides a historical record of those who participated in this significant act of repentance, lending credibility and weight to the reform. The **Specificity** of naming each individual underscores the personal nature of sin and repentance, even within a corporate context. It highlights that the problem was pervasive and that the solution required individual commitment from many. Furthermore, the **Repetition** of the structure (clan name followed by a list of individuals) throughout the chapter emphasizes the thoroughness of the process and the widespread impact of the intermarriage issue, while also lending a solemn, almost legalistic tone to the record of covenant renewal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:31, as part of a list of those who repented of intermarriage, profoundly connects to the Old Testament emphasis on holiness, separation, and covenant fidelity. The act of putting away foreign wives, while personally devastating, was seen as a necessary measure to preserve the spiritual purity and distinct identity of the returned exiles, preventing a relapse into the idolatry that led to their seventy-year captivity. This radical obedience underscores the principle that true repentance often involves costly, tangible actions that align one's life with God's revealed will, even when it demands significant personal sacrifice. It highlights the serious consequences of compromise with the world and the paramount importance of guarding the spiritual integrity of God's people.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")
* [Nehemiah 13:23-27](/nehemiah/13-23 "Nehemiah 13:23-27 - Nehemiah's Action Against Intermarriage")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14-18](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 10:31, though a seemingly dry list of names, carries profound lessons for contemporary believers. It confronts us with the reality that faithfulness to God may require painful decisions and radical obedience. In our own lives, compromise with worldly values or relationships that draw us away from God can be subtle but devastating. This passage calls us to examine our own allegiances and to be willing to make difficult choices to maintain spiritual integrity and purity. It reminds us that sin, particularly that which compromises our identity as God's people, demands decisive action and genuine repentance, not just intellectual assent. The public nature of this reform also highlights the importance of accountability within the faith community, where we are called to encourage one another toward holiness and faithfulness, even when it involves challenging personal sacrifices for the greater spiritual health of the body of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign influences" or compromises might be subtly drawing me away from a deeper walk with God today?**
* **Am I willing to make difficult, even painful, sacrifices in my life to align more fully with God's will and maintain spiritual purity?**
* **How does my personal commitment to holiness contribute to the overall spiritual health and witness of my faith community?**
* **In what areas of my life might God be calling me to a more radical form of obedience or separation from worldly patterns?**

### FAQ

**Why is such a detailed list of names included in Ezra 10?**

Answer: The detailed list of names, including those in [Ezra 10:31](/ezra/10-31 "Ezra 10:31 - Sons of Harim"), serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it provides a historical and legal record, authenticating the widespread nature of the intermarriage problem and the comprehensive scope of the reform. It demonstrates that the problem was not ignored but addressed with thoroughness and accountability. Secondly, it underscores the personal nature of sin and repentance; each name represents an individual who publicly acknowledged their transgression and committed to a difficult act of obedience. This specificity highlights that while the sin was corporate, the repentance was individual. Finally, it emphasizes the gravity of the issue and the solemnity of the covenant renewal, making it clear that this was a significant, painful, but necessary step for the spiritual survival and purity of the post-exilic community, preventing a return to the idolatry that led to the Babylonian exile.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezra 10:31 details a specific, painful act of physical separation for the sake of Old Covenant purity, it foreshadows the deeper spiritual purity and separation from the world that is found in Christ. The Old Testament law, with its stringent demands for ritual and communal purity, pointed to the ultimate need for a perfect sacrifice to truly cleanse humanity from sin. Jesus Christ, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly fulfilled the Law and offered Himself as the ultimate atoning sacrifice, making true spiritual cleansing and reconciliation with God possible, not through human effort or painful physical separation, but through faith in His finished work ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")). Believers in Christ are called to be a holy people, set apart for God's purposes ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Holy Nation")), not by putting away spouses, but by putting away sin and worldly desires ([Titus 2:11-12](/titus/2-11 "Titus 2:11-12 - Grace Teaches Us to Deny Ungodliness")). The New Covenant call to "not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" ([2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")) emphasizes spiritual and moral alignment, reflecting the desire for God's people to remain distinct and undefiled, ultimately fulfilled by Christ who sanctifies His church to be a pure and spotless bride ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nehemiah 3:11

Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.

Ezra 2:32

The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

Nehemiah 7:35

The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.