Devine Scripture

Nehemiah 10:30

What does Nehemiah 10:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 10:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 10:30 means

The people promise not to give their daughters to the peoples of the land nor to take their daughters for their sons. This is not ethnic pride but covenant protection. Intermarriage with those who do not serve God would lead hearts away and erode obedience. By pledging to guard marriage, they protect worship and the next generation’s faithfulness. Families commit to make choices aligned with God’s law, recognizing that the home is a primary place where loyalty to Him is formed.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the lands, or take their daughters for our sons;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and that we give not our daughters to the peoples of the land, and their daughters we take not to our sons;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

Context

The first specific vow addresses family life, following the general oath of verse 29. Intermarriage had been a recurring cause of compromise. Placing this promise first underscores its importance in maintaining a distinct, covenant-keeping community. Next will come vows about Sabbath commerce and sabbatical release, showing how obedience extends from the home to the marketplace and the land.

v.29they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;

v.30This passage

v.31and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 34:16

    and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters play the harlot after their gods, and make thy sons play the harlot after their gods.

  • Deuteronomy 7:3

    neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

  • Ezra 9:12

    now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity for ever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

  • Ezra 9:1

    Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples 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 10:10

    And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.

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