What is the meaning of Ezra 10:21? From the descendants of Harim • “From the descendants of Harim:” (Ezra 10:21) sets the context. Harim was one of the priestly families that returned from exile (Ezra 2:39; Nehemiah 7:42). • Scripture names this clan to show that even leaders can drift; holiness is non-negotiable for every believer (Leviticus 21:6; 1 Peter 1:15-16). • By recording the offenders publicly, Ezra underlines personal responsibility and the call to corporate purity (Joshua 7:13; 1 Corinthians 5:6-7). Maaseiah • Meaning “the LORD is a refuge,” yet this man stepped outside God’s refuge by marrying a foreign wife (Ezra 10:2,10-11). • His inclusion reminds us that a godly heritage or name does not immunize against compromise (1 Corinthians 10:12; Revelation 3:1-2). • Repentance was required: he joined the covenant renewal and “put away” the unlawful union (Ezra 10:44), illustrating Proverbs 28:13. Elijah • Not to be confused with the prophet of 1 Kings, this Elijah still bears a name linked to God’s power (“My God is Yah”). • His failure shows that past revivals or famous names do not guarantee present faithfulness (2 Kings 18:36-39; Luke 3:8). • By facing correction, he models Hebrews 12:11—the painful moment produces peaceful fruit later. Shemaiah • A common priestly name meaning “Yah hears.” God indeed “heard” and exposed the sin (Numbers 32:23; Psalm 90:8). • Shemaiah’s appearance in the list demonstrates God’s intimate knowledge of each heart (Psalm 139:1-4; Hebrews 4:13). • The episode calls believers to heed James 1:22—hearing without obeying invites discipline. Jehiel • “God lives.” This statement clashes with behavior that disregards God’s living presence (Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 5:4). • Jehiel’s repentance echoes Psalm 51:17; brokenness restores fellowship. • His story also parallels Malachi 2:11: the priesthood had “profaned the sanctuary,” yet God extended mercy when they returned. Uzziah • Means “the LORD is my strength,” yet he leaned on his own judgment by entering an illicit marriage (Proverbs 3:5-6). • The corrective action taken mirrors the later king Uzziah who was struck with leprosy for overstepping priestly bounds (2 Chronicles 26:16-19): God disciplines leaders to protect His glory. • Restoration here precedes the renewal of temple worship recorded in Nehemiah 12, underscoring 1 John 1:9. summary Ezra 10:21 lists five priests from the family of Harim who had taken foreign wives. By naming them, Scripture stresses individual accountability, the seriousness of covenant purity, and the hope of restoration through repentance. God’s people—especially leaders—must align private choices with public faith, knowing that the living, holy God still hears, sees, disciplines, and restores all who return to Him. |
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