What is the meaning of Nehemiah 13:27? Must we now hear Nehemiah’s opening words drip with grief and disbelief. After leading the people in covenant renewal (Nehemiah 10), he returns from Persia only to “hear” fresh reports of compromise. Scripture often treats sinful rumors as an alarm bell: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you” (1 Corinthians 5:1). The mere fact that the news has reached him signals public scandal, like Eli confronting his sons: “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings” (1 Samuel 2:23). Hearing persistent sin after clear teaching shows hearts resisting God’s word rather than ignorance. that you too Nehemiah singles out leaders and ordinary people alike—“you too”—not outsiders. Just as Paul rebukes Jews who “teach others” yet fail to obey themselves (Romans 2:21), spiritual insiders are held to the highest standard (James 3:1). Ezra had faced this very failure only years earlier (Ezra 10:10–12). The repetition of sin among the same covenant community intensifies the offense. are doing all this terrible evil The phrase stacks words to underline gravity. Scripture never labels disobedience lightly; idolatry and covenant-breaking are called “evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 33:2). • Evil is never isolated—small compromises snowball (Judges 2:11–13). • What the world might view as cultural blending, God calls “terrible” when it opposes His revealed will (Deuteronomy 17:3–4). and acting unfaithfully against our God “Unfaithfully” recalls marriage imagery between God and His people. When Judah mixed worship, the prophets cried, “They have been unfaithful to the LORD” (2 Chronicles 29:6). Malachi, Nehemiah’s contemporary, echoes: “Judah has acted treacherously… marrying the daughter of a foreign god” (Malachi 2:11). Faithfulness is personal; sin wounds a relationship, not just a rule. by marrying foreign women? The issue is spiritual, not racial. God forbade intermarriage with nations that would “turn your sons away from following Me” (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). Earlier the people vowed, “We will not give our daughters in marriage to the peoples of the land” (Nehemiah 10:30), yet they broke that pledge. • Solomon’s downfall (1 Kings 11:1–4) illustrates the danger. • Ezra tore his garments for the same sin (Ezra 9:1–3). • The principle continues: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Marrying outside the faith invites divided devotion, threatens family worship, and models disobedience to children. summary Nehemiah’s question packs a fivefold punch: How can God’s own people, who heard the truth, repeat known sin, multiply evil, break covenant, and marry in ways that lure hearts from Him? The verse reminds believers today that public testimony matters, leaders are not exempt, sin is never minor, unfaithfulness grieves a personal God, and marriage must champion shared faith to guard generational loyalty to Christ. |
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