Lexical Summary Bedeyah: Bedeyah Original Word: בֵּדְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bedeiah Probably a shortened form Obadyah; servant of Jehovah; Bedejah, an Israelite -- Bedeiah. see HEBREW Obadyah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originshort. from Obadyah Definition "servant of Yah," an Isr. NASB Translation Bedeiah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs ֵבּדְיָה proper name, masculine (= עֲבֵדְיָה servant of ׳י ? ᵐ5 Βαραια, ᵐ5L Βαδαια) an Israelite Ezra 10:35. Topical Lexicon Name and Singular Biblical Appearance Bedeiah is listed once, in Ezra 10:35, among the returned exiles who had taken pagan wives. The presence of his name in a roster of repentance underscores both individual accountability and communal restoration. Historical Setting Ezra 10 records events late in the fifth century BC, when Ezra confronted unlawful intermarriage that threatened Israel’s covenant identity. Those named—including Bedeiah—publicly confessed, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women” (Ezra 10:2), and pledged separation. This decisive act occurred during a period of spiritual renewal following the Babylonian captivity, illustrating how post-exilic Israel sought to re-align national life with Mosaic commands (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Narrative Function 1. Identification with the Tribe of Benjamin’s clan of Bani situates Bedeiah within a faith community that both erred and repented. Theological Significance Separation from foreign spouses was not ethnic prejudice but covenant fidelity. Marriage to idol-worshipers risked apostasy, as illustrated by Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-6). Bedeiah’s repentance illustrates: Contrast Between Name and Action The meaning of Bedeiah’s name evokes devoted service to Yahweh. His failure, therefore, highlights human inconsistency, while his repentance magnifies divine mercy. The juxtaposition teaches that a godly heritage or pious name is no substitute for ongoing obedience (Matthew 3:9). Lessons for Contemporary Ministry • Leadership must address sin promptly and biblically (Ezra 10:10-11). Intertextual Echoes Nehemiah 13 revisits the same issue, showing persistent temptation toward syncretism. Malachi 2:11-16 condemns faithless marriages and divorce, echoing Ezra’s reforms and underscoring that the marital covenant mirrors God’s covenant love. Conclusion Though Bedeiah enters Scripture only in a list of offenders, his inclusion within a narrative of repentance, sacrifice, and restored covenant faithfulness provides enduring instruction on holiness, grace, and the seriousness with which God’s people must guard their distinct identity in every generation. Forms and Transliterations בֵדְיָ֖ה בדיה ḇê·ḏə·yāh ḇêḏəyāh vedeYahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 10:35 HEB: בְּנָיָ֥ה בֵדְיָ֖ה [כְּלָהַי כ] NAS: Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, KJV: Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, INT: Benaiah Bedeiah Chelluh 1 Occurrence |
    |