Ezra 10:40

KJV

Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

KJV (with Strong's)

Machnadebai {H4367}, Shashai {H8343}, Sharai {H8298},

Complete Jewish Bible

Makhnavdai, Shashai, Sharai,

Berean Standard Bible

Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

American Standard Version

Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:40 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse within the larger narrative of post-exilic Israel's spiritual reformation, specifically listing three individuals—Machnadebai, Shashai, and Sharai—among those who had taken foreign wives and committed to putting them away. This act, though personally painful, represented a pivotal moment of national repentance and a corporate commitment to obey God's law, ensuring the spiritual purity and distinct identity of the covenant community returning from Babylonian exile.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:40 is situated within the climactic chapter detailing Israel's national repentance and reform following Ezra's discovery of widespread intermarriage with pagan peoples. Chapters 9 and 10 form a narrative unit, beginning with Ezra's passionate prayer of confession and grief (Ezra 9) and culminating in the solemn assembly and covenant to separate from foreign wives (Ezra 10:1-17). Verses 10:18-43 provide a meticulous register of the men involved in this profound act of purification, with Ezra 10:40 being a part of this comprehensive list. The inclusion of specific names underscores the personal accountability and the thoroughness of the reform, emphasizing that this was not merely a general decree but a deeply personal and collective commitment to God's covenant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Ezra 10 unfold in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period, likely around 458 BC. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon under the decrees of Persian kings, tasked with rebuilding the temple and re-establishing their community in the land. A critical challenge was the pervasive intermarriage with the surrounding non-Israelite populations, a practice explicitly forbidden by Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage")). This prohibition was not merely cultural but theological, aimed at preserving Israel's unique identity as God's covenant people and preventing assimilation into idolatrous practices that had historically led to their spiritual downfall and ultimately, the exile itself. The cultural norms of the time often involved intermarriage for political alliances or economic gain, making this separation a radical act of faith and obedience.
* **Key Themes:** The verse, as part of Ezra 10, contributes significantly to several overarching themes. Foremost is **Obedience to God's Law**, highlighting the people's commitment to adhere to divine commands, even when such obedience demands immense personal sacrifice. This act was crucial for maintaining the **Purity of the Covenant Community**, ensuring that Israel remained distinct, holy, and devoted solely to Yahweh, thereby safeguarding their unique role in redemptive history. The meticulous listing of names, including Machnadebai, Shashai, and Sharai, emphasizes **Accountability and Specificity**, illustrating that the sin of intermarriage was widespread and required individual, public acknowledgment and repentance. Finally, this passage powerfully demonstrates **The Cost of Repentance**, revealing that true turning from sin often necessitates difficult, tangible actions and a willingness to relinquish even deeply personal relationships for the sake of God's honor and the community's spiritual well-being. This painful separation was a necessary step towards the restoration of their relationship with God and the re-establishment of a holy remnant, as seen in the broader narrative of [Ezra](/ezra/1 "The Book of Ezra").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Machnadebai (Hebrew, _Maḵnaḏbāy'_):** While the precise etymology of this name is debated, its inclusion, along with Shashai and Sharai, is less about individual meaning and more about the collective significance. The meticulous listing of specific names throughout Ezra 10:18-43 underscores the comprehensive nature of the reform. These names represent real individuals who were part of the community and had to personally confront their sin and commit to the covenant. The very act of recording their names in scripture serves as a testament to the seriousness of the issue and the individual accountability required for national spiritual restoration. It highlights that the reform was not an abstract policy but a painful, personal reality for many.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Machnadebai,"**: This name, the first of the three in this specific verse, signifies a real person who had taken a foreign wife and was now committing to the solemn covenant to put her away. Its placement here emphasizes his individual participation in the widespread sin and the subsequent act of repentance and obedience.
* **"Shashai,"**: The second name in the list, Shashai, further reinforces the pervasive nature of the intermarriage issue within the community. His inclusion indicates another individual who, alongside his brethren, was called to make a difficult personal sacrifice for the spiritual integrity of the nation.
* **"Sharai,"**: The final name in this triplet, Sharai, completes the enumeration for this particular verse. Like the others, his presence in the list solidifies the comprehensive scope of the reform, demonstrating that the call to purity and obedience extended to many individuals across different families and societal strata within the returned exiles.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 10:40, as part of a larger register, primarily employs the literary device of **List** or **Register**. This meticulous cataloging of names (found throughout Ezra 10:18-43) serves several crucial functions. Firstly, it lends an air of **Historicity** and **Verisimilitude**, assuring the reader that these events were real and involved specific individuals, not merely abstract groups. Secondly, it emphasizes **Specificity** and **Accountability**, highlighting that the sin of intermarriage was not a vague problem but one that affected identifiable members of the community, each of whom had to personally repent and act. The **Repetition** of names across the larger list underscores the pervasive nature of the problem and the thoroughness of the solution, demonstrating the significant number of people involved in this painful but necessary act of purification.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:40, by listing specific individuals involved in the painful act of separating from foreign wives, powerfully illustrates the biblical principle that genuine repentance often demands costly, tangible actions. This commitment to purity and separation from defiling influences is a recurring theme throughout scripture, emphasizing God's desire for a holy people set apart for His purposes. The theological weight of this passage lies in its demonstration of covenant faithfulness—the people's willingness to re-align their lives with God's commands, even when it meant personal heartache, for the sake of the community's spiritual integrity and their unique identity as God's chosen nation. This act foreshadows the ongoing call for believers to live lives of holiness and distinction in a fallen world.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-4](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-4 - Commands Against Intermarriage with Canaanites")
* [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
While the specific cultural context of intermarriage with pagan nations may seem distant to modern believers, the profound principles embedded in Ezra 10:40 remain acutely relevant for spiritual formation and communal purity today. This verse challenges us to consider the areas in our own lives where we might be compromising our faith or allowing worldly influences to subtly erode our distinct identity as followers of Christ. True repentance, as exemplified by these men, is rarely comfortable; it often demands difficult choices, the relinquishing of cherished habits or relationships, and a costly turning away from anything that hinders our full devotion to God. The meticulous record of names also reminds us of the importance of accountability within the believing community, where mutual support and adherence to biblical standards are vital for collective spiritual health and growth. Our call to holiness is not merely an individual pursuit but a corporate one, impacting the witness and purity of the entire body of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign influences" or compromises might be subtly eroding my spiritual purity or distinct identity as a follower of Christ today?**
* **What costly actions might genuine repentance require of me in specific areas of my life?**
* **How does my commitment to personal holiness contribute to or detract from the spiritual health and witness of my local church community?**
* **In what ways can I embrace accountability within my faith community to better align my life with God's Word?**

### FAQ

**Why are specific names like Machnadebai, Shashai, and Sharai listed in Ezra 10:40?**

Answer: The listing of specific names in Ezra 10:40 and throughout Ezra 10:18-43 serves multiple crucial purposes. Firstly, it underscores the **historicity and reality** of the events, demonstrating that this was a genuine, widespread problem affecting identifiable individuals within the returned exiles. Secondly, it emphasizes **individual accountability**; each man listed had personally committed the sin of intermarriage and was now personally committing to the painful act of repentance and separation. This highlights the seriousness with which God and Ezra viewed the breach of covenant. Finally, the meticulous record provides a **comprehensive scope** of the reform, showing that the call to purity and obedience was not a general decree but applied to many members of the community, including priests, Levites, and other Israelites, as detailed in [Ezra 10:18-43](/ezra/10-18 "Ezra 10:18-43 - List of Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezra 10:40 details a painful but necessary act of separation under the Old Covenant to preserve the purity of Israel, it ultimately points forward to the greater and more complete purification accomplished through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's emphasis on Israel's distinctness and holiness, often through ritual and social separation, foreshadowed the ultimate spiritual purity available through Christ. He is the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offering a definitive sacrifice that cleanses us from all unrighteousness, not merely from external defilement but from the very root of sin within our hearts (compare [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Through His atoning work, believers are made part of a new covenant community, the Church, which is called to be a pure and holy bride, set apart for Christ ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church as His Bride")). The painful separation in Ezra prefigures the spiritual separation believers must undergo from the defiling influences of the world, not by putting away spouses, but by putting off the old self and putting on the new self in Christ ([Colossians 3:5-10](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5-10 - Put Off the Old Self")). Ultimately, the pursuit of purity in Ezra finds its perfect fulfillment and spiritual reality in the person and work of Christ, who enables us to live as a holy people, not by our own painful efforts alone, but by His transforming grace and the power of the Spirit ([Titus 2:11-14](/titus/2-11 "Titus 2:11-14 - Grace Teaches Us to Live Godly Lives")).

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.