Ezra 10:39

KJV

And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Shelemiah {H8018}, and Nathan {H5416}, and Adaiah {H5718},

Complete Jewish Bible

Shelemyah, Natan, 'Adayah,

Berean Standard Bible

Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,

American Standard Version

and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:39 lists Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah as three individuals among many who had taken foreign wives during the post-exilic period in Judah. This verse is a specific entry within a detailed register of men who publicly committed to a national reformation, agreeing to put away their non-Israelite spouses and children in an act of costly obedience to the Mosaic Law, thereby safeguarding the spiritual and ethnic purity of the returned covenant community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:39 is situated within the final chapter of the book of Ezra, which chronicles a pivotal moment of national repentance and spiritual renewal. Following Ezra’s profound prayer of confession in [Ezra 9:6-15](/ezra/9-6 "Ezra's Prayer of Confession"), the people of Israel, led by Shecaniah, acknowledged their widespread sin of intermarriage with foreign women, a practice explicitly forbidden by God's law. They then made a solemn covenant to rectify this transgression by putting away their foreign wives and children, as detailed in [Ezra 10:3](/ezra/10-3 "The Covenant to Put Away Foreign Wives"). Ezra 10:18-44 provides a meticulous list of the men from various families—including priests, Levites, and other Israelites—who were found to have committed this sin and subsequently agreed to the terms of the covenant. The naming of individuals like Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah in [Ezra 10:39](/ezra/10-39 "Ezra 10:39 - Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah") underscores the personal accountability and the comprehensive nature of this painful but necessary reform.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Ezra 10 unfold in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period, roughly in the mid-5th century BC, after the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylonian captivity. The community was striving to re-establish itself in the land of Judah and rebuild its spiritual identity under the Mosaic Law. Intermarriage with the surrounding pagan nations was a recurring problem throughout Israel's history, explicitly prohibited in passages like [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage") and [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warnings Against Covenants with Inhabitants of the Land"). The concern was not merely ethnic, but primarily spiritual: such unions often led to the adoption of idolatrous practices and the erosion of Israel's distinct covenant relationship with Yahweh. In a fragile, newly re-established community, maintaining spiritual purity and a clear identity as God's chosen people was paramount to their survival and their role in God's redemptive plan, particularly concerning the lineage of the Messiah.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Covenant Fidelity:** The core theme is the absolute necessity of adhering to God's covenant commands, even when such obedience demands immense personal sacrifice. The prohibition against intermarriage was a fundamental aspect of Israel's covenant with God, designed to preserve their unique identity and prevent spiritual apostasy. The actions of Ezra and the people in [Ezra 10](/ezra/10 "Ezra 10 - The Resolution of Intermarriage") demonstrate a renewed commitment to this fidelity, recognizing that disobedience had led to their past exile and threatened their present existence.
* **Corporate Repentance and Renewal:** The chapter highlights the corporate nature of sin and the collective responsibility to address it. The sin of intermarriage was widespread, affecting many families and threatening the entire community's spiritual health. The public confession, the solemn oath, and the meticulous listing of individuals like those in [Ezra 10:39](/ezra/10-39 "Ezra 10:39 - Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah") emphasize a shared commitment to genuine repentance, a painful but necessary process of purification and renewal for the entire nation.
* **Preservation of Identity:** A crucial underlying theme is the safeguarding of Israel's distinct spiritual and ethnic identity. The drastic measures taken were aimed at ensuring that Israel remained a people "set apart" for God, untainted by the idolatry and practices of the surrounding nations. This preservation was vital not only for their immediate spiritual health but also for the continuity of the covenant line through which God's redemptive plan, culminating in the Messiah, would unfold.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Shelemiah (Hebrew, _Shĕlemyāh_):** Meaning "Yahweh is my peace" or "Yahweh is my recompense." The name itself, meaning "my peace," carries a poignant irony in this context, as the act of putting away a foreign wife would have been anything but peaceful for the individual and his family. However, it could also hint at the ultimate peace and restoration found in obedience to God, or that God would recompense their difficult sacrifice.
* **Nathan (Hebrew, _Nāthān_):** Meaning "He has given" or "God has given." This name might subtly point to the grace of God that enables individuals to undertake such a difficult act of obedience, or it could simply be a common name of the era. In a broader sense, it reminds the reader that all good things, including the ability to obey, are gifts from God.
* **Adaiah (Hebrew, _‘Adāyāh_):** Meaning "Yahweh has adorned himself" or "Yahweh has passed by." This name could suggest God's presence and intervention in the lives of His people, or His "passing by" in judgment or mercy. In the context of national repentance, it might signify God's active involvement in the cleansing and restoration of His people, making them "adorned" in His sight through their obedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Shelemiah,"**: This initial naming highlights the individual responsibility within the collective sin and subsequent repentance. The listing is meticulous, indicating that each man was identified and held accountable. Shelemiah's inclusion demonstrates that the problem of intermarriage was widespread, affecting various families and individuals.
* **"and Nathan,"**: The continuation of the list with Nathan reinforces the comprehensive nature of the investigation and the reform. It shows that the process was thorough, identifying numerous individuals who had transgressed the law regarding intermarriage. Each name represents a personal story of sin, conviction, and a difficult decision to obey.
* **"and Adaiah,"**: The third name in this specific verse further emphasizes the breadth of the problem and the depth of the commitment required for the national cleansing. The simple listing of names, without further detail, points to the objective, factual recording of those who participated in this significant act of national reformation.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 10:39, as part of a longer list, primarily employs **Listing** or **Enumeration**. This device serves to provide a meticulous and comprehensive record of the individuals involved in the intermarriage transgression and subsequent repentance. The repetitive "and X, and Y, and Z" structure, often referred to as **Anaphora** when repeated at the beginning of clauses, creates a rhythmic, almost litany-like effect, underscoring the sheer number of men involved and the widespread nature of the problem. The act of explicitly naming each individual constitutes **Emphasis by Naming**, which highlights the personal accountability of each man and the public nature of their sin and subsequent compliance with the covenant. This detailed **Historical Record** validates the thoroughness of Ezra's reform efforts and the seriousness with which the community approached their spiritual purification.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The inclusion of specific names like Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah in the biblical record of Ezra 10:39 serves as a powerful testament to the seriousness of sin, the necessity of personal and corporate repentance, and the costly nature of true obedience to God's covenant. It underscores that while sin can be widespread, its resolution requires individual accountability and painful choices. The meticulous detail of the list emphasizes the importance of purity and distinctiveness for the covenant community, demonstrating that God's people are called to be set apart, even when it demands radical separation from worldly entanglements that compromise their faith. This historical account provides a stark reminder that fidelity to God's commands is paramount for the spiritual health and preservation of His 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 Confrontation of Intermarriage")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14-18](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Ezra 10, with its detailed listing of individuals like Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah, presents a challenging yet vital lesson for believers today. It reminds us that genuine repentance often involves difficult and costly actions, requiring a willingness to forsake that which is contrary to God's will, even if it means personal pain or social discomfort. The commitment of these men, though undoubtedly agonizing, was an act of profound faith and obedience, prioritizing God's law and the spiritual integrity of the community over personal attachments. While the New Testament does not command ethnic separation, it does call believers to a spiritual separation from worldly values and practices that compromise faith and devotion to God. This narrative urges us to examine our own lives for areas where compromise with the world might be eroding our distinctiveness as God's people, prompting us to embrace costly obedience for the sake of spiritual purity and fidelity to Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What areas in my life might require a "costly obedience" to God's commands, even if it brings personal discomfort or sacrifice?**
* **How does the principle of corporate accountability in Ezra 10 challenge or affirm my understanding of community within the church today?**
* **In what ways am I called to maintain spiritual distinctiveness from worldly values, and how can I practically live this out?**

### FAQ
**Why are these specific names listed in the Bible?**

Answer: The listing of specific names like Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah in Ezra 10:39 serves multiple critical purposes. Firstly, it provides a meticulous and verifiable historical record of the national reform, emphasizing the thoroughness of the investigation and the widespread nature of the intermarriage problem. Secondly, it highlights individual accountability; while the sin was corporate, each man was personally identified and required to make a difficult decision. This public record served as a testament to the community's commitment to genuine repentance and adherence to God's law, demonstrating that the reform was not superficial but deeply personal and comprehensive.

**Was it fair to make men put away their wives and children?**

Answer: From a modern perspective, this action appears incredibly harsh and tragic, causing immense personal suffering. However, within the historical and theological context of the Old Testament, it was understood as a necessary, albeit drastic, measure to preserve the spiritual purity and distinct identity of the covenant community. The prohibition against intermarriage was a divine command designed to prevent the adoption of idolatry and the erosion of Israel's unique relationship with God. At this critical post-exilic juncture, with the nation fragile and vulnerable to assimilation, the leaders believed the very survival of their spiritual heritage, and thus the lineage through which the Messiah would come, depended on this uncompromising act of obedience. It was a corporate act of repentance for a corporate sin, undertaken to safeguard the nation's future fidelity to God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The stringent measures taken in Ezra 10, including the painful separation from foreign wives and children, underscore the Old Testament's emphasis on purity and distinctiveness for God's people. While these laws, such as the prohibition against intermarriage, served to preserve the physical lineage and spiritual integrity of Israel in anticipation of the Messiah, they ultimately pointed to a deeper, spiritual purity that only Christ could achieve. Jesus, the ultimate [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), fulfills the need for a holy people not by legalistic separation from physical relationships, but by cleansing humanity from the sin that truly defiles. Through His sacrifice, believers are made [new creations in Christ Jesus](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ"), becoming a spiritual Israel, a [royal priesthood, a holy nation](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood"), set apart for God not by ethnic lineage but by faith in Him. The call to separation for the New Testament believer is primarily spiritual—to be [not unequally yoked with unbelievers](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked") in spiritual matters, and to live in purity by the power of the [Holy Spirit](/galatians/5-16 "Galatians 5:16 - Walk by the Spirit"), reflecting Christ's holiness in a fallen world.

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.