Meaning of Nehemiah 13:27

This verse, spoken by Nehemiah, expresses his profound dismay and condemnation of the people's actions in re-marrying foreign women after the covenant had been re-established and the people had returned from exile. The "terrible wickedness" refers to the violation of the covenant with God, which explicitly forbade intermarriage with the surrounding nations. This act was not merely a social transgression but a spiritual betrayal, as it threatened the religious and national distinctiveness of Israel, which was central to God's redemptive plan. Nehemiah's rhetorical question highlights the shock and disappointment that such a relapse into disobedience would occur among those who had just recommitted themselves to God's law.

Context and Background

Following the Babylonian exile, the Jewish people, under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, underwent a significant religious reformation. They renewed their covenant with God, emphasizing adherence to the Mosaic Law. A critical aspect of this renewal was the separation from the surrounding gentile nations, whose practices were seen as a spiritual danger. The book of Nehemiah details the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and further reforms. However, as the initial fervor of the reforms waned, or perhaps as the population became more integrated with the surrounding communities, the prohibition against marrying foreign women was flagrantly ignored. This verse emerges in the context of Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem after a period away, discovering this widespread breach of covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

• Covenant Fidelity: The verse underscores the importance of faithfulness to God's covenants. Marrying foreign women was a direct assault on the covenant established at Sinai and reaffirmed upon their return from exile.
• Spiritual Purity and Separation: The prohibition against intermarriage was rooted in a desire to maintain spiritual purity and prevent the adoption of idolatrous practices that were prevalent among neighboring peoples.
• The Danger of Assimilation: The verse warns against the insidious danger of cultural and religious assimilation that could dilute or extinguish the unique identity and faith of God's people.
• Leadership's Responsibility: Nehemiah's strong reaction demonstrates the responsibility of spiritual leaders to confront sin and uphold God's standards.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers today, this verse serves as a potent reminder of the need for discernment in our associations and relationships. While the specific prohibition against intermarriage with unbelievers is not a direct command in the same way for the New Testament church, the principle of not being "unequally yoked" (2 Corinthians 6:14) remains highly relevant. It calls for caution in relationships that could compromise one's faith or lead one away from God. The verse also highlights the ongoing struggle against sin and the temptation to compromise one's spiritual convictions for the sake of social conformity or personal desires. It encourages a commitment to spiritual distinctiveness and a conscious effort to maintain a life that honors God in all relationships.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This incident in Nehemiah is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. From the early warnings to Israel in Deuteronomy (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:1-6) about not intermarrying with the Canaanites, to the consequences faced by Solomon when his foreign wives led him astray (1 Kings 11:1-11), the danger of compromising religious distinctiveness through intermarriage was a consistent concern. The exile itself was partly a consequence of the Israelites' failure to heed these warnings and their assimilation into surrounding cultures. Nehemiah's efforts represent a renewed attempt to secure the future of God's people as a distinct entity, essential for the eventual coming of the Messiah through the lineage of Israel.

Analogies

One analogy for the concern expressed in Nehemiah 13:27 is that of a farmer carefully tending a prize vineyard. If the farmer allows wild, thorny vines to grow amongst the cultivated grapes, not only will the harvest be diminished, but the wild vines could eventually choke out and destroy the precious crop. Similarly, the foreign wives, representing different religious and cultural influences, were seen as a threat to the spiritual "crop" of Israel. Another analogy is that of a pure stream of water that is essential for a community's survival. If the stream becomes polluted by foreign elements, its life-giving properties are compromised, and the community suffers.

Relation to Other Verses

• Deuteronomy 7:3-4: "You shall not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will quickly destroy you." This passage lays the foundational prohibition that Nehemiah is upholding.
• Ezra 9:1-2: Ezra also confronted the same issue upon his arrival, stating, "For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, and have profaned the holy race of the LORD by these abominations." This shows the continuity of the problem and the concern of successive leaders.
• 2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" This New Testament principle, while broader in application, resonates with the concern for spiritual purity and the potential negative influence of close association with those who do not share one's faith.
• 1 Corinthians 7:39: "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord." This verse in the New Testament reiterates the importance of a shared faith within marriage.