Lexical Summary Maknadbay: Maknadbay Original Word: מַכְנַדְבַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Machnadebai From mah and nadab with a particle interposed; what (is) like (a) liberal (man)?; Maknadbai, an Israelite -- Machnadebai. see HEBREW mah see HEBREW nadab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Machnadebai (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַכְנַדְּבַי proper name, masculine one of those who had taken strange wives Ezra 10:40 (GrayExpos. Times, Feb. 1889, p. 233 proposes מכרנבו = possession of Nebo); ᵐ5 Μαξαδναβου, A Μαχναδααβου; ᵐ5L Ναδαβου. Topical Lexicon Canonical Placement Maknadbai appears once in the Old Testament, in Ezra 10:40, within the roster of returned exiles who had taken pagan wives and later pledged to dissolve those unlawful unions. Text of the Occurrence “Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai;” (Ezra 10:40) Historical Context The account belongs to the great post-exilic reform led by Ezra around 458 BC. Having discovered that many Israelite men had married foreign women, Ezra called the community to repentance (Ezra 9:1–4). A public covenant ceremony at the temple required each guilty party to separate from his foreign wife (Ezra 10:9–12). Maknadbai is listed among the sons of Hashum (Ezra 10:33–44), a family that had returned with Zerubbabel decades earlier (Ezra 2:19). His appearance testifies to the breadth of the problem—spanning lay families, temple servants, and leaders alike—and to the comprehensive nature of the reform that followed. Family Association The house of Hashum is recorded three times: Their inclusion highlights that covenant unfaithfulness was not limited to marginal families but touched respected returnee clans. Name Significance and Textual Notes While the exact meaning of מַכְנַדְבַי is uncertain, scholars link its structure to Northwest Semitic personal names that incorporate a theophoric element, possibly alluding to an Aramaic deity name. The uniqueness of the form reinforces the authenticity of Ezra’s list, preserving even obscure individuals. Its sole attestation prevents dogmatism about etymology, yet it invites reflection on how even lesser-known saints are remembered in Scripture’s genealogies (cf. Malachi 3:16). Spiritual and Ministry Implications 1. The seriousness of covenant purity. Maknadbai’s brief mention underscores that marital fidelity to the covenant community was non-negotiable. His willingness to surrender a forbidden marriage models repentance that costs something tangible (Ezra 10:19). Lessons for Contemporary Believers • Guarding the sanctity of marriage and resisting syncretism remain vital for the Church’s witness (2 Corinthians 6:14–18). Forms and Transliterations מַכְנַדְבַ֥י מכנדבי machnadVai maḵ·naḏ·ḇay maḵnaḏḇayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 10:40 HEB: מַכְנַדְבַ֥י שָׁשַׁ֖י שָׁרָֽי׃ NAS: Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, KJV: Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, INT: Machnadebai Shashai Sharai 1 Occurrence |
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