Ezra 10:41

KJV

Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

KJV (with Strong's)

Azareel {H5832}, and Shelemiah {H8018}, Shemariah {H8114},

Complete Jewish Bible

'Azar'el, Shelemyah, Sh'maryah,

Berean Standard Bible

Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

American Standard Version

Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse, Ezra 10:41, meticulously records the names of Azareel, Shelemiah, and Shemariah, three individuals identified among those who had taken foreign wives during the post-exilic period in Judah. As part of a comprehensive roster spanning Ezra 10:18-44, this entry underscores the profound personal and communal commitment to repentance and spiritual purification undertaken by the returning exiles, a crucial step in re-establishing their covenant relationship with God and preserving their distinct identity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:41 is nestled within a detailed list (Ezra 10:18-44) enumerating the men who had married foreign women and agreed to divorce them. This list serves as the concrete manifestation of the community's repentance, which began with Ezra's discovery of the widespread intermarriage (Ezra 9) and the subsequent public confession and vow (Ezra 10:1-17). The preceding verses describe the assembly at Jerusalem, the people's weeping, and their solemn oath to put away their foreign wives. The meticulous naming of individuals, including those in Ezra 10:41, emphasizes the gravity of the sin and the public, accountable nature of the purification process, demonstrating a thorough commitment to restoring covenant fidelity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Ezra 10 unfold in Jerusalem around 458 BC, during the post-exilic period, approximately 80 years after the initial return from Babylonian captivity. The Jewish community, having endured the trauma of exile due to their unfaithfulness, was striving to rebuild not just the Temple and city walls but also their spiritual identity. Intermarriage with the surrounding pagan peoples was a direct violation of God's clear commands, as outlined in [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage"), which aimed to prevent syncretism and preserve Israel's distinctiveness as a holy nation. The cultural context highlights the constant pressure from neighboring peoples and their idolatrous practices, making the act of separation a radical, counter-cultural commitment to Yahweh alone.
* **Key Themes:** Ezra 10:41 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezra and the broader post-exilic narrative. Central is the theme of **Obedience to God's Law**, as the community takes drastic measures to align with the Mosaic covenant's prohibition against intermarriage, recognizing it as essential for their spiritual survival. This action directly addresses the theme of **Purity and Holiness**, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a distinct, consecrated identity for God's chosen people to avoid the spiritual corruption that led to the exile. Furthermore, the detailed listing of names underscores **Accountability and Repentance**, demonstrating that genuine repentance involves public acknowledgment of sin and concrete, often painful, steps towards rectification, as seen in the community's solemn vow in [Ezra 10:3](/ezra/10-3 "Ezra 10:3 - Covenant to Put Away Foreign Wives"). Ultimately, these actions are foundational to the theme of **Restoration and Renewal**, as the community seeks to re-establish a right relationship with God and secure their future as His covenant people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Azareel (Hebrew, _ʿAzarʾel'_):** Meaning "God has helped" or "God is my help." The inclusion of this name, alongside others, ironically highlights the human failure to uphold the covenant, even as the community seeks God's help in their repentance. It serves as a poignant reminder that while God is faithful to help His people, their obedience is also required.
* **Shelemiah (Hebrew, _Shelemyâh'_):** Meaning "Yahweh is recompense" or "Yahweh is peace/completeness." This name, like Azareel, carries a theological weight that contrasts with the sin being addressed. It subtly points to the justice of God in requiring repentance, but also to the peace and wholeness that comes from returning to Him.
* **Shemariah (Hebrew, _Shemaryâh'_):** Meaning "Yahweh has guarded" or "Yahweh has preserved." This name underscores the divine faithfulness in preserving a remnant of Israel through exile and return, even when the people themselves failed to guard their covenant purity. The act of putting away foreign wives was, in a sense, the people's response to God's ongoing preservation, an attempt to align with His protective will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Azareel":** This individual, whose name means "God has helped," is listed as one of those who had taken a foreign wife. His inclusion signifies that the transgression of intermarriage was not confined to a few, but was a widespread issue affecting various members of the community, including those whose names inherently spoke of divine aid, emphasizing the depth of their spiritual compromise.
* **"and Shelemiah":** The addition of Shelemiah, whose name translates to "Yahweh is recompense" or "Yahweh is peace," further expands the roster of offenders. His presence in this list underscores the communal nature of the sin and the collective responsibility to rectify it, highlighting that the pursuit of peace and wholeness for the community necessitated painful acts of separation and obedience.
* **"Shemariah":** The final name in this specific verse, Shemariah, meaning "Yahweh has guarded" or "Yahweh has preserved," completes this trio. The listing of these names, each with a theophoric element (referring to God), serves not just as a historical record but also as a stark reminder of the individuals who, despite their names proclaiming God's attributes, had fallen into disobedience, necessitating a public act of repentance to restore the community's spiritual integrity.

#### Literary Devices
The most prominent literary device in Ezra 10:41, and indeed throughout the lengthy list in Ezra 10:18-44, is **Enumeration**. This meticulous listing of names serves a crucial purpose: it underscores the comprehensive scope of the problem of intermarriage and, by extension, the thoroughness of the community's repentance. The sheer volume of names conveys the widespread nature of the sin, making it clear that this was not an isolated issue but a pervasive challenge to Israel's covenant fidelity. Furthermore, there is an element of **Irony** present, particularly when considering the meanings of the individual names (e.g., Azareel, "God has helped"; Shelemiah, "Yahweh is peace"; Shemariah, "Yahweh has guarded"). These names, which inherently proclaim divine attributes or actions, belong to individuals who had acted in direct disobedience to God's clear commands. This juxtaposition highlights the human tendency to stray even when blessed by God, and it subtly emphasizes the profound need for divine intervention and human repentance to restore a right relationship. The act of listing also functions as a form of **Accountability Record**, publicly documenting those who participated in the solemn agreement, thereby reinforcing the seriousness and communal commitment to purification.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The meticulous recording of names like Azareel, Shelemiah, and Shemariah in Ezra 10:41 serves as a stark reminder of the theological imperative for **covenant faithfulness** and **spiritual purity** within the community of God's people. For ancient Israel, intermarriage with pagan nations was not merely a social transgression but a direct violation of divine law designed to prevent idolatry and preserve their unique identity as a holy nation set apart for Yahweh. This episode highlights the principle of **corporate holiness**, where the sin of individuals could compromise the spiritual integrity of the entire community, necessitating a collective and public act of repentance and separation. It underscores that true restoration involves confronting sin directly and making difficult choices to align with God's perfect will, ensuring that the community remains a distinct witness to His sovereignty.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")
* [Leviticus 11:44-45](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44-45 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14-17](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14-17 - Call to Separation and Holiness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific cultural context of Ezra 10:41 differs significantly from modern life, the underlying principles of purity, obedience, and accountability remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This passage challenges us to examine areas in our own lives where we might be unequally yoked or compromising our spiritual integrity through associations or choices that contradict God's Word. It calls for a radical commitment to holiness, recognizing that our personal choices have ripple effects on the wider community of faith. True repentance, as exemplified by the Israelites, often requires painful, decisive action to sever ties with anything that hinders our relationship with God and His purposes for us. It is a reminder that spiritual health, both individually and corporately, demands ongoing vigilance, humble confession, and courageous obedience to God's commands, even when costly.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be compromising my spiritual distinctiveness or being "unequally yoked" with influences contrary to God's will?**
* **What difficult or costly steps might God be calling me to take to pursue greater holiness and obedience in my life?**
* **How does my personal commitment to purity impact the spiritual health and witness of my faith community?**

### FAQ
**Was it fair for the Israelites to divorce their foreign wives and send away their children?**

Answer: This is one of the most challenging aspects of Ezra 10 for modern readers. From a theological perspective within the Old Covenant, the command to separate was rooted in God's prior prohibition against intermarriage (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")). The primary concern was the preservation of Israel's spiritual purity and their unique identity as the covenant people, preventing the infiltration of idolatry that had historically led to their downfall and exile. While the human cost was undoubtedly immense, the narrative presents it as a necessary, albeit painful, act of corporate repentance and obedience to restore their relationship with God and secure their future as His chosen nation. It highlights the severe consequences of disobedience and the radical measures sometimes required to re-establish covenant fidelity.

**Does this passage imply that intermarriage is always wrong for Christians today?**

Answer: The context of Ezra 10 is specific to Old Covenant Israel's unique role as a nation preserving the pure worship of Yahweh in a pagan world, with clear commands against intermarriage to prevent idolatry. For New Testament believers, the emphasis shifts from ethnic or national purity to spiritual purity and unity in Christ. While the Bible does not prohibit marriage across ethnic lines, it strongly advises believers to marry "only in the Lord" (e.g., [1 Corinthians 7:39](/1_corinthians/7-39 "1 Corinthians 7:39 - Marry Only in the Lord")) and warns against being "unequally yoked" with unbelievers (e.g., [2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")). The principle is about spiritual alignment and shared faith, ensuring that one's spouse is a fellow heir of the grace of life, rather than a source of spiritual compromise.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The drastic measures taken in Ezra 10:41 and throughout the chapter to purify the post-exilic community from foreign influences find their ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Christ. While the Old Covenant demanded physical and national separation to maintain purity, the New Covenant establishes a spiritual purity achieved through Christ's atoning work. Jesus, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), purifies His people from the defilement of sin, not by outward separation from certain ethnic groups, but by an inward transformation of the heart. The call for Israel to be a holy people, set apart for God, is fulfilled in the Church, which is called to be a holy bride for Christ, distinct from the world in its values and practices (cf. [Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Sanctifies the Church")). The painful separation in Ezra foreshadows the spiritual separation from the "world system" that believers are called to embrace, recognizing that our true identity is found in Christ, making us citizens of a heavenly kingdom (cf. [Philippians 3:20](/philippians/3-20 "Philippians 3:20 - Our Citizenship is in Heaven")). Ultimately, Christ Himself is the one who enables us to live holy lives, providing the perfect righteousness that the Old Covenant could only foreshadow through external acts of purification, thereby fulfilling the deep longing for a truly pure and undefiled people of God.

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.