Nehemiah 13:24
22 Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.
23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
25 I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!
26 Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
- KJV
- And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
- WEB
- and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
- ASV
- and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews` language, but according to the language of each people.
- DARBY
- And their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
- BLB
- And of their sons, half were speaking Ashdodite, and none of them knowing how to speak Judean, and according to the tongue of people by people.
- ÅB
- av deres barn talte halvdelen asdodittisk - de kunne ikke tale jødisk - eller et av de andre folks tungemål.
- OTB
- Halvparten av deres barn snakket språket fra Asjdod eller språket til et av de andre folkene, og var ikke flytende i Judas språk.
- B1930
- av deres barn talte halvdelen asdodittisk - de kunde ikke tale jødisk - eller et av de andre folks tungemål.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Zephaniah 3:9
For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
Read in context