Lexical Summary Ashdodith: Ashdodite, language of Ashdod Original Word: אַשְׁדּוֹדִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance in the language of AshdodFeminine of 'Ashdowdiy; (only adverb) in the language of Ashdod -- in the speech of Ashdod. see HEBREW 'Ashdowdiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of Ashdodi Definition in the language of Ashdod NASB Translation language of Ashdod (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַשְׁדּוֺדִית adverb in the language of Ashdod, i.e. of Philistines Nehemiah 13:24 ׳מְדַבֵּר א. אשׁה (support, √ of following). Topical Lexicon Term Overviewאַשְׁדּוֹדִית designates the spoken idiom of Ashdod, one of the five chief Philistine cities on the Mediterranean coast. The word appears only once in Scripture, yet that single reference provides a window into post-exilic struggles for covenant purity, cultural identity, and generational faithfulness. Biblical Occurrence Nehemiah 13:23-24 narrates the issue: “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, except in the dialect of their own people”. The scene unfolds roughly a century after the first return from Babylon. Mixed marriages had produced children who no longer spoke Judean Hebrew fluently; their speech betrayed a Philistine accent and vocabulary. For Nehemiah, the erosion of language signaled the erosion of faith, threatening the distinctiveness of a people called to “walk in all the commandments… of the LORD” (compare Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Historical Background of Ashdod Ashdod occupies a long and turbulent place in Israel’s story. Conquered territory in Joshua 11:22, a host city for the captured ark in 1 Samuel 5:1-7, besieged by the Assyrians in Isaiah 20:1, and judged in prophetic oracles such as Zephaniah 2:4, Ashdod typifies Philistine resistance to the purposes of God. Though politically diminished by Nehemiah’s day, its linguistic footprint remained influential in the coastal plain. Exposure to merchant trade, foreign garrisons, and intermarriage kept the Ashdodite tongue alive among surrounding peoples—including some Judeans living outside strict covenant safeguards. Language and Covenant Identity Scripture repeatedly links language with worship and allegiance. After Babel, divergent tongues scattered nations (Genesis 11:9); at Sinai, the words of the covenant forged Israel’s identity (Exodus 24:7-8). In post-exilic Jerusalem, losing the “language of Judah” meant more than a communication gap—it implied drifting from Scripture, temple liturgy, and the promise lineage culminating in Messiah. Parents who allowed their children to grow up Ashdodite-speaking inadvertently distanced them from reading the Law, praying the Psalms, and participating fully in synagogue life. Nehemiah’s vigorous reforms, including public reprimand and oath-taking (Nehemiah 13:25), aimed to restore linguistic and spiritual continuity. Archaeological and Historical Notes Inscriptions and ostraca from Philistine strata reveal a blend of Semitic and Aegean elements, suggesting that by the fifth century B.C. an Ashdodite vernacular differed noticeably in phonology and script from post-exilic Hebrew. This corroborates Nehemiah’s alarm: children shifting to a hybrid coastal dialect would struggle with the square-script Torah then gaining prominence. Excavations at Tel Ashdod confirm enduring settlement through Persian times, offering a plausible milieu for linguistic interchange. Cross-Referenced Themes • Marriages with foreign women and resulting syncretism: Ezra 9:1-4; Malachi 2:11. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Guarding Transmission of Truth: Language shapes worldview. Churches and homes must ensure Scripture remains intelligible to the next generation, whether by faithful translation, catechesis, or modeling biblical vocabulary. 2. Separation with Purpose: Nehemiah’s response was not ethnic disdain but covenant fidelity. Believers today navigate multicultural contexts while maintaining allegiance to Christ’s lordship, avoiding compromises that dilute gospel clarity. 3. Family Discipleship: The Ashdodite episode underscores the parental role in forming speech that honors God. Regular reading of Scripture aloud, prayer, and worship in the common tongue knit hearts to divine revelation. 4. Mission without Assimilation: Israel was to bless nations (Genesis 12:3) yet remain distinct. Likewise, the church evangelizes cultures without absorbing values contrary to the kingdom. Lessons for Contemporary Believers When mother-tongue fluency in Scripture wanes, doctrinal drift often follows. Congregations that cherish biblical languages—or reliable vernacular versions—fortify themselves against the modern equivalents of “Ashdodite.” Nehemiah’s zeal invites believers to evaluate what voices shape their households, schools, and worship, and to renew commitment to teaching “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) in words that the next generation can fully understand. Forms and Transliterations אַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית אשדודית ’aš·dō·w·ḏîṯ ’ašdōwḏîṯ ashdoDitLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 13:24 HEB: חֲצִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית וְאֵינָ֥ם מַכִּירִ֖ים NAS: spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none KJV: half in the speech of Ashdod, and could INT: half spoke the language and none was able 1 Occurrence |
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