Nehemiah 13:23

KJV

¶ In those days also saw I Jews [that] had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:

KJV (with Strong's)

In those days {H3117} also saw {H7200} I Jews {H3064} that had married {H3427} wives {H802} of Ashdod {H796}, of Ammon {H5984}, and of Moab {H4125}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Also during this time I saw the Judeans who had married women from Ashdod, 'Amon and Mo'av;

Berean Standard Bible

In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

American Standard Version

In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof Moab:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 13:23 records Nehemiah's distressing discovery upon his return to Jerusalem: a significant portion of the post-exilic Jewish community had engaged in forbidden intermarriage with women from surrounding pagan nations, specifically Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. This widespread practice represented a profound spiritual compromise and a direct violation of God's covenant commands, severely threatening the distinct identity and spiritual purity of Israel and setting the stage for Nehemiah's swift and decisive actions to restore fidelity to the Law.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 13:23 is situated within the concluding chapter of the book, which details Nehemiah's second tenure as governor in Jerusalem. Following a period of absence during which he returned to the Persian court (as mentioned in [Nehemiah 13:6](/nehemiah/13-6 "Nehemiah's Return to Artaxerxes")), Nehemiah arrives back in Jerusalem to find that many of the reforms he had previously instituted had been neglected or outright abandoned. The preceding verses (from [Nehemiah 13:1](/nehemiah/13-1 "Nehemiah 13 - Expulsion of Foreigners") to [Nehemiah 13:12](/nehemiah/13-12 "Nehemiah 13 - Restoration of Temple Support")) describe his immediate efforts to rectify issues such as the desecration of the Temple by Tobiah, the neglect of Levitical support, and the profanation of the Sabbath. This verse, therefore, marks a continuation of Nehemiah's zealous campaign to address the widespread spiritual decline, specifically targeting the deeply entrenched and highly destructive issue of intermarriage, which constituted a fundamental breach of the covenant and a direct threat to the community's spiritual integrity. It powerfully sets the stage for Nehemiah's impassioned and drastic response detailed in the subsequent verses of [Nehemiah 13](/nehemiah/13 "Nehemiah 13 - Further Reforms").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The post-exilic community in Jerusalem was a fragile remnant, striving to rebuild not only the physical infrastructure of walls and a temple but, more critically, their spiritual identity as God's covenant people. The Mosaic Law, particularly explicit passages in [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Warnings Against Intermarriage") and [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Covenant Renewal and Warnings Against Intermarriage"), unequivocally prohibited intermarriage with the surrounding pagan nations. This prohibition was not arbitrary; it was a divine safeguard designed to prevent idolatry, safeguard the purity of worship, and preserve Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh. The specific mention of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab is highly significant. Ashdod was a prominent Philistine city, historically a formidable enemy of Israel and a notorious center of pagan worship (e.g., Dagon). The Ammonites and Moabites, though distantly related through Lot, were long-standing adversaries of Israel, known for their abhorrent idolatry (e.g., Molech worship among the Ammonites) and active opposition to Israel's prosperity, notably their refusal to provide aid during the Exodus (as recounted in [Deuteronomy 23:3-6](/deuteronomy/23-3 "Deuteronomy 23:3-6 - Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites")). Their inclusion in this verse underscores the profound depth of the community's spiritual compromise, as these were not merely generic "foreigners" but peoples with a deeply ingrained history of hostility and spiritual corruption against God's chosen nation.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to the book of Nehemiah and the broader post-exilic narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Covenant Fidelity and Purity**. The primary concern was the insidious erosion of Israel's distinct identity as God's chosen people, consecrated for holiness. Marrying outside the covenant community directly threatened their exclusive loyalty to Yahweh and exposed them to the corrupting influences of pagan worship and customs, a recurring problem throughout Israel's history, vividly illustrated in the narratives of the Judges and Kings. Secondly, it highlights the **Consequences of Compromise**. This spiritual drift, particularly the widespread intermarriage, demonstrates the community's pervasive failure to uphold the Law, leading to a breakdown in their relationship with God and foreshadowing Nehemiah's strong and decisive actions to address this grievous sin. The issue of foreign wives had plagued Israel from early times, leading to significant spiritual decline, and was a major concern for Ezra as well, as comprehensively detailed in [Ezra 9-10](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - The Problem of Intermarriage"). Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Spiritual Separation**. God had explicitly commanded Israel to remain separate from surrounding nations, not merely physically but profoundly spiritually, to avoid their idolatry and moral corruption. This principle was foundational to their existence as a holy nation, as articulated in [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Jews (Hebrew, _Yᵉhûwdîy'_):** This term (H3064), patronymically derived from Judah, refers to the inhabitants of Judah or descendants of the exiles. Its use here is crucial because it emphasizes that these individuals were not new converts or foreign residents, but members of the covenant community who were directly violating God's law. The designation "Jews" underscores the internal nature of the problem within the restored community, highlighting a failure of fidelity among those who should have known and upheld the covenant.
* **married (Hebrew, _yâshab'_):** The Hebrew verb _yâshab_ (H3427), while primarily meaning "to sit down" or "to dwell," carries the causative implication "to settle" or "to marry" in this context. It signifies not merely individual unions but the formation of deep familial and social ties through marriage alliances. This term highlights the profound integration of these foreign women into the Israelite community, making the spiritual compromise even more pervasive and difficult to undo, as it implies a settled, established relationship rather than a fleeting encounter.
* **wives (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** This word (H802), the feminine form of "man," refers to a woman or wife. In this context, it specifically denotes the foreign women who had become spouses within the Jewish community. The presence of these "wives" from forbidden nations was the tangible manifestation of the covenant breach, as they would inevitably bring their foreign customs, gods, and spiritual influences into the Israelite households, directly threatening the purity of the family unit and, by extension, the entire nation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In those days also saw I Jews":** This introductory clause immediately establishes the personal, eyewitness account of Nehemiah. "In those days" refers to the period after his return from the Persian court, indicating that this spiritual decline had occurred during his absence, highlighting the rapid deterioration of covenant faithfulness. The phrase "saw I" emphasizes his direct observation and conveys the profound shock and dismay he felt at the extent of the compromise within the very community he had worked so diligently to restore. It sets a tone of personal urgency and righteous indignation.
* **"[that] had married wives of Ashdod":** This specifies the first group of foreign women involved in these illicit unions. Ashdod, a prominent Philistine city, was a historical adversary of Israel and a notorious center of Dagon worship. Marrying into this group represented a direct and egregious breach of the divine command to remain separate from the Canaanite peoples and their deeply entrenched idolatrous practices, which were anathema to Yahweh.
* **"of Ammon, [and] of Moab":** These two nations are grouped together, highlighting their shared history of antagonism towards Israel and their notorious idolatry. The Ammonites were infamous for worshipping Molech, which involved child sacrifice, while the Moabites were associated with Baal-peor and sexual immorality (as recounted in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - Baal-Peor and Israel's Sin")). Intermarriage with these groups was particularly egregious, as they were explicitly barred from the assembly of the Lord (as stated in [Deuteronomy 23:3-6](/deuteronomy/23-3 "Deuteronomy 23:3-6 - Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites")), underscoring the severe spiritual and covenantal breach these unions represented.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 13:23 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message and underscore the severity of the situation. The primary device is **Eyewitness Account** or **First-Person Reportage**, as Nehemiah directly states, "saw I Jews." This personal observation lends immediate credibility, authenticity, and a sense of urgent dismay to the discovery, preparing the reader for Nehemiah's subsequent strong reaction. Another significant device is **Enumeration** or **Listing**, specifically naming "Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab." This precise naming is far from arbitrary; it highlights the specific and particularly egregious nature of the transgression, as these nations had long histories of animosity and idolatry against Israel, making the intermarriages a profound betrayal of the covenant and a direct threat to Israel's spiritual distinctiveness. Finally, the verse functions powerfully as **Foreshadowing**, setting the dramatic stage for Nehemiah's intense and forceful actions in the subsequent verses (such as [Nehemiah 13:25-27](/nehemiah/13-25 "Nehemiah 13:25-27 - Nehemiah's Confrontation of Intermarriage")), where he confronts the offenders directly, even violently, underscoring the extreme severity of the sin in his eyes and the dire consequences of such spiritual compromise.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 13:23 stands as a stark and enduring reminder of the persistent struggle for covenant fidelity and the insidious dangers of spiritual compromise. The prohibition against intermarriage was not merely an ethnic or social regulation, but a profound theological imperative divinely designed to preserve Israel's unique identity as God's holy people and prevent the insidious infiltration of idolatry and pagan practices. This verse powerfully demonstrates how quickly a community can drift from its foundational principles when vigilance wanes, highlighting the ongoing human propensity to compromise divine commands for social acceptance, economic expediency, or personal desire. It underscores the vital importance of maintaining spiritual purity and separation from influences that would corrupt genuine faith and wholehearted devotion to the one true God, a principle that transcends the Old Covenant and speaks to the Church today.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage and Its Purpose")
* [Ezra 9:1-2](/ezra/9-1 "Ezra 9:1-2 - The Abomination of Intermarriage")
* [1 Kings 11:1-8](/1_kings/11-1 "1 Kings 11:1-8 - Solomon's Foreign Wives and Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nehemiah 13:23 serves as a timeless and potent warning about the subtle yet ultimately destructive nature of spiritual compromise, particularly as it manifests through intimate relationships. While the New Covenant does not impose the same ethnic restrictions on marriage, the underlying principle of guarding one's spiritual integrity and prioritizing fidelity to God remains profoundly relevant and critically important for believers today. Our closest relationships, especially marriage, are incredibly formative and possess immense power to either strengthen and propel our walk with God or severely undermine and derail it. This verse challenges us to soberly consider the spiritual implications of our associations and to prioritize unwavering fidelity to Christ above all else. It calls believers to seek partners who genuinely share their faith, their commitment to God's Word, and their pursuit of holiness, understanding that being "unequally yoked" (as described in the New Testament) can lead to spiritual drift, compromise of core values, and a weakening of one's witness for Christ. It reminds us that true devotion to God often requires difficult choices, a willingness to stand apart from prevailing cultural norms that contradict biblical principles, and a steadfast resolve to ensure that our lives reflect the distinctiveness and holiness of God's redeemed people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to compromise my spiritual convictions for the sake of social acceptance, personal comfort, or worldly gain?**
* **How do my closest relationships, particularly my marriage or romantic relationships, either strengthen or challenge my walk with God and my commitment to His kingdom?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my relationships are aligned with my commitment to Christ and His purposes, fostering spiritual growth rather than compromise?**
* **How does the principle of "spiritual separation" apply to my life in a way that promotes holiness and distinctiveness without fostering isolation, legalism, or judgmental attitudes towards others?**

### FAQ
**Was intermarriage always forbidden in the Old Testament, or were there exceptions?**

Answer: While the general command in the Law of Moses strongly prohibited intermarriage with the surrounding Canaanite nations due to the inherent threat of idolatry and spiritual corruption (e.g., [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warning Against Covenants with Inhabitants of the Land") and [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage")), there were nuanced situations. The primary concern was always the religious and moral influence that foreign spouses might exert, leading Israel away from Yahweh. For example, Ruth, a Moabitess, was accepted into Israel and became an ancestor of David and ultimately Christ because she converted to Yahwism and pledged unwavering allegiance to God and His people ([Ruth 1:16-17](/ruth/1-16 "Ruth 1:16-17 - Ruth's Pledge of Loyalty and Faith")). However, the specific nations mentioned in Nehemiah 13:23—Ashdod (Philistines), Ammonites, and Moabites—were often singled out for their deep-seated hostility towards Israel and their particularly corrupting religious practices. Some, like the Ammonites and Moabites, were even explicitly barred from the assembly of the Lord (e.g., [Deuteronomy 23:3-6](/deuteronomy/23-3 "Deuteronomy 23:3-6 - Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites")) due to their historical actions against Israel. Nehemiah's concern was not merely ethnic or racial, but primarily theological and covenantal, stemming from the historical and ongoing spiritual danger these particular alliances posed to Israel's covenant purity and their exclusive devotion to God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Nehemiah 13:23, with its poignant focus on the purity of God's covenant people and the insidious dangers of spiritual compromise through unholy alliances, finds profound and amplified Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Covenant. While the specific ethnic prohibitions of the Old Testament are transcended by the universal scope of the Gospel, the underlying principle of spiritual distinctiveness and purity is not abolished but rather intensified in Christ. The Church, as the new Israel and the spiritual offspring of Abraham, is called to be a holy people, a pure and spotless bride prepared for Christ ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church and the Church as His Bride")). The New Testament unequivocally warns believers against being "unequally yoked with unbelievers" ([2 Corinthians 6:14-18](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked with Unbelievers")), a prohibition rooted not in nationality or race, but in spiritual allegiance and shared devotion to the Lord. This command ensures that the believer's primary loyalty remains with Christ and that their spiritual journey is not hindered, corrupted, or drawn away from God by associations that promote conflicting values or idolatrous practices. Just as Nehemiah zealously sought to preserve the purity of the physical lineage and faith of Israel, Christ, through His atoning work on the cross, purifies His people from all sin, making them spiritually fit for His holy presence and preparing them as a glorious Church. The ultimate goal is not merely external separation, but an internal transformation of the heart that produces a people devoted solely to God, reflecting the radiant holiness of the Lamb's wife, eagerly awaiting the joyous marriage supper of the Lamb ([Revelation 19:7-8](/revelation/19-7 "Revelation 19:7-8 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Bride's Purity")).

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

Ezra 9:1

¶ Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Ezra 9:2

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

Nehemiah 10:30

And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

Ezra 10:10

And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

Nehemiah 13:1

¶ 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;

2 Corinthians 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Ezra 10:44

All these had taken strange wives: and [some] of them had wives by whom they had children.