Lexical Summary Vanyah: Vaniah Original Word: וַנְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Vaniah Perhaps for Anayah; Vanjah, an Israelite -- Vaniah. see HEBREW Anayah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Vaniah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs וַנְיָה proper name, masculine one of those with strange wives, Ezra 10:36 (text dubious; ᵐ5B Ουἰεχωα, א Ουἰερεχω, A Ουὀυνια, ᵐ5L Ουἀνια). Topical Lexicon Identity within the Restoration Community Vaniah appears once in the Old Testament, listed among the returned exiles who took foreign wives (Ezra 10:36). He is numbered with “the sons of Pahath-moab,” a prominent clan that had come back with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:6). The single reference fixes him in the early post-exilic generation, roughly 458 B.C., when Ezra led the second group from Babylon to Jerusalem. Historical Setting Ezra arrived in Judah to teach “the laws of your God” (Ezra 7:25) and discovered widespread intermarriage with the surrounding peoples. Because these unions threatened the distinct covenant identity Israel was called to maintain (Deuteronomy 7:3-4), Ezra convened an assembly that required an oath of repentance (Ezra 10:3-5). The resulting census of offenders includes Vaniah. His mention in verse 36 places him among lay family heads who voluntarily confessed and agreed to “put away their wives” (Ezra 10:11). Scriptural Citation “Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib” (Ezra 10:36). Theological Significance 1. Covenant Purity: Vaniah’s name is tied forever to the call for holy separation. The list in Ezra 10 demonstrates that faithfulness to God sometimes requires painful personal decisions. Ministry Lessons • Leadership must confront sin lovingly yet decisively, following Ezra’s example of mourning, prayer, and Scripture-based instruction. Related Biblical Parallels Nehemiah 13:23-27 records a later confrontation with the same issue, underscoring its ongoing danger. The broader principle of separation unto God is echoed in passages such as Exodus 19:5-6, 1 Peter 2:9, and James 4:4. Legacy Though Vaniah is mentioned only once, his appearance in Scripture serves as a perpetual reminder that covenant fidelity requires vigilance. His willingness to stand in a public list of confessors illustrates the grace God extends to those who humble themselves, leading to renewed worship and communal blessing. Forms and Transliterations וַנְיָ֥ה וניה vanYah wan·yāh wanyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 10:36 HEB: וַנְיָ֥ה מְרֵמ֖וֹת אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב׃ NAS: Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, KJV: Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, INT: Vaniah Meremoth Eliashib 1 Occurrence |
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