Ezra 10:41
New International Version
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

New Living Translation
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

English Standard Version
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Berean Standard Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

King James Bible
Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

New King James Version
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

New American Standard Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

NASB 1995
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

NASB 1977
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Legacy Standard Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Amplified Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Christian Standard Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

American Standard Version
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

English Revised Version
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

International Standard Version
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

NET Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

New Heart English Bible
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Webster's Bible Translation
Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

World English Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Young's Literal Translation
Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Smith's Literal Translation
Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Ezrel, and Selemiau, Semeria,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

New American Bible
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

New Revised Standard Version
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Ardaei, Memariah, Shemariah, Shallum,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Ardayel and Shemaria.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ezriel, and Selemia, and Samaria,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 13:23-27
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. / 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! ...

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

1 Kings 11:1-4
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ...

Malachi 2:11-12
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. / As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...

Exodus 34:15-16
Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.

Joshua 23:12-13
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

1 Corinthians 7:12-14
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. / And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. / For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Judges 3:5-6
Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

1 Kings 16:31-33
And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. / First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. / Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.

2 Kings 17:7-8
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.

Nehemiah 10:30
We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

2 Chronicles 19:2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”


Treasury of Scripture

Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Jump to Previous
Azareel Azarel Az'arel Shelemiah Shelemi'ah Shemariah Shemari'ah
Jump to Next
Azareel Azarel Az'arel Shelemiah Shelemi'ah Shemariah Shemari'ah
Ezra 10
1. Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages
6. Ezra assembles the people
9. The people repent, and promise amendment
15. The care to perform it
18. The names of them which had married strange wives














Azarel
Azarel is a name that appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, often associated with the tribe of Levi or other priestly lines. The name means "God has helped," which reflects a common theme in Hebrew names where the character or destiny of a person is tied to their relationship with God. In the context of Ezra 10, Azarel is listed among those who had taken foreign wives, which was against the Mosaic Law. This highlights the ongoing struggle of the Israelites to maintain their distinct identity and covenant relationship with God amidst surrounding pagan cultures. The call to separate from foreign influences is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, emphasizing the need for holiness and purity in worship.

Shelemiah
Shelemiah is another name that appears multiple times in the Old Testament, often associated with priestly or Levitical duties. The name means "God has repaid" or "God is peace," indicating a divine recompense or tranquility. In Ezra 10, Shelemiah is listed among those who had intermarried with foreign women, which was a significant issue for the post-exilic community striving to reestablish their identity and faithfulness to God's commandments. This reflects the broader narrative of Israel's history, where obedience to God's law was crucial for receiving His blessings and maintaining peace within the community. The inclusion of Shelemiah in this list underscores the importance of repentance and returning to God's ways.

Shemariah
Shemariah, meaning "God has kept" or "God guards," is a name that signifies divine protection and faithfulness. In the context of Ezra 10, Shemariah is among those who had taken foreign wives, highlighting the challenge of remaining faithful to God's covenant in a diverse and often hostile cultural environment. This situation is reminiscent of other biblical accounts where the Israelites struggled with idolatry and assimilation into surrounding nations, leading to spiritual and social consequences. The call to separate from foreign influences and return to God's law is a theme that resonates throughout the Old Testament, pointing to the need for a faithful remnant who would uphold God's standards and prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Azarel
A member of the Israelite community who was involved in the issue of intermarriage with foreign women, which was against the Mosaic Law.

2. Shelemiah
Another individual listed among those who had taken foreign wives, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.

3. Shemariah
Also part of the group needing to repent and separate from foreign influences to restore covenant faithfulness.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites' disobedience in marrying foreign women was a direct violation of God's commands. This teaches us the importance of adhering to God's Word in all aspects of life.

Repentance and Restoration
The actions taken in Ezra 10 demonstrate the necessity of repentance to restore one's relationship with God. True repentance involves both confession and action.

Guarding Against Compromise
The intermarriages represented a compromise of faith. Believers today must be vigilant against influences that can lead them away from their commitment to God.

Community Accountability
The communal response to the sin of intermarriage shows the role of community in holding each other accountable to God's standards.

The Role of Leadership
Ezra's leadership was crucial in guiding the people back to faithfulness. Spiritual leaders today have a responsibility to lead with integrity and courage.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Ezra 10:41?

2. How does Ezra 10:41 emphasize the importance of repentance in our lives today?

3. What lessons on obedience can we learn from Ezra 10:41's context?

4. How does Ezra 10:41 connect with the theme of covenant faithfulness in Scripture?

5. In what ways can we apply Ezra 10:41's message to modern Christian communities?

6. How does Ezra 10:41 encourage us to prioritize God's commands over cultural pressures?

7. What historical evidence supports the events described in Ezra 10:41?

8. How does Ezra 10:41 reflect the theme of repentance in the Bible?

9. What theological implications arise from the actions taken in Ezra 10:41?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezra 10?

11. Ezra 10:10 - How is this command to divorce reconcileable with other biblical teachings that appear to disapprove of divorce?

12. Isaiah 41:10: Why have the Jewish people endured long periods of suffering or exile if God's promise to support and protect them is absolute?

13. Ezra 10:44 - How can a just God require separating from wives and children if some may have converted to the faith?

14. Ezra 10:15 - Why are only a few individuals mentioned as opposing this course of action, despite its obvious moral and social implications?
What Does Ezra 10:41 Mean
Azarel

Ezra 10:41 opens with the simple listing of “Azarel,” one of the men who had taken a foreign wife and then agreed to put away that unlawful marriage. Because Scripture is historically precise (see 2 Timothy 3:16), the Holy Spirit saw fit to preserve even this single name.

• The listing underscores that God deals with individuals as well as the nation. Like the earlier call to consecration in Joshua 24:15, each person had to choose obedience.

• Azarel’s presence in the record shows:

– Personal responsibility—no hiding in the crowd (compare Numbers 32:23, “be sure your sin will find you out”).

– The opportunity for repentance—God’s mercy extended to every name on the list (see Psalm 51:17; Ezra 9:13).

• His inclusion reminds believers today that acts of compromise are never anonymous before the Lord (Hebrews 4:13), yet confession restores fellowship (1 John 1:9).


Shelemiah

• “Shelemiah” follows, another man of the same situation. His name appears in other contexts (e.g., Nehemiah 13:13, Jeremiah 38:1), showing that even common names can mark uncommon obedience or disobedience.

• In Ezra 10 Shelemiah models:

– Submission to scriptural authority. The returning exiles measured their lives by the Law (Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Ezra 10:3).

– Courage to break with ungodly alliances, echoing the call of 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for believers to be separate.

• By renouncing an unlawful marriage, Shelemiah affirmed God’s covenant standards, paralleling Malachi 2:11’s rebuke of faithless marriages.

• His example challenges families today to honor God above cultural pressure, just as Joshua’s household did (Joshua 24:15).


Shemariah

• The verse ends with “Shemariah,” rounding out the triad. Repetition of individual names throughout Scripture (1 Chronicles 4-9) teaches that every believer’s choices echo in God’s redemptive story.

• Shemariah highlights:

– The communal nature of repentance. Ezra 10 lists priests, Levites, singers, and laymen (Ezra 10:18-43), showing that holiness is the calling of the entire community (1 Peter 1:15-16).

– The fruit of decisive action. Like King Josiah purging idolatry (2 Kings 23:1-25), these men acted promptly, fulfilling Proverbs 28:13: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”

• The name’s placement at the close of verse 41 signals completion: the matter was settled, obedience was rendered, and restoration could proceed (Ezra 10:12, Nehemiah 8:9-12).


summary

Ezra 10:41 may appear to be a mere list of three names, yet it powerfully illustrates that God records and honors individual responses to His Word. Azarel, Shelemiah, and Shemariah stand as concrete reminders that:

• Sin is personal, and so is repentance.

• Obedience often requires hard, counter-cultural choices.

• God’s covenant standards never change, and His mercy welcomes every contrite heart.

Their brief appearance in Scripture challenges us to live with the same transparency and wholehearted devotion, trusting that the Lord sees, records, and rewards faithfulness in every generation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Azarel,
עֲזַרְאֵ֥ל (‘ă·zar·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5832: Azarel -- 'God has helped', the name of several Israelites

Shelemiah,
וְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ (wə·še·lem·yā·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8018: Shelemiah -- 'friend of Yah', the name of several Israelites

Shemariah,
שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃ (šə·mar·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8114: Shemariah -- 'Yah has kept', three Israelites


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OT History: Ezra 10:41 Azarel and Shelemiah Shemariah (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 10:40
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