The term "strange wife" in the Bible typically refers to foreign women who were married to Israelite men, often leading them away from the worship of Yahweh and into idolatry. This concept is primarily discussed in the context of the Old Testament, where intermarriage with foreign nations was a significant concern for maintaining the religious and cultural purity of the Israelite people.

Biblical References:

1. Ezra 10:2-3: In the post-exilic period, Ezra the scribe confronted the issue of Israelites marrying foreign women. The people confessed their sin and made a covenant to put away these wives. "Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra, 'We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel, despite this. So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.'"

2. Nehemiah 13:23-27: Nehemiah also dealt with the issue of Israelites marrying foreign women. He rebuked them, reminding them of Solomon's sin. "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 the language of one of the other peoples, but they could not speak the language of Judah. I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God, saying, 'You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves. Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin.'"

3. Deuteronomy 7:3-4: The Mosaic Law explicitly prohibited intermarriage with the surrounding nations to prevent the Israelites from turning to other gods. "Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you."

Theological Implications:

The prohibition against marrying "strange wives" was not based on ethnic prejudice but on religious fidelity. The primary concern was that foreign wives would lead Israelite men to worship other gods, thus violating the first commandment and endangering the covenant relationship between God and His people. This concern is evident in the historical accounts of Solomon and other Israelite leaders who were led astray by their foreign wives.

Historical Context:

During the periods of the Judges, the United Monarchy, and the Exile, Israel was surrounded by nations with different religious practices. The Israelites were called to be a holy people, set apart for God. Marrying foreign women often meant adopting their religious practices, which included idolatry and other customs contrary to the Law of Moses.

Cultural Considerations:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, marriage alliances were often used to secure political and economic ties. However, for Israel, such alliances posed a threat to their distinct identity as God's chosen people. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of maintaining a community devoted exclusively to the worship of Yahweh.

Practical Application:

The principle underlying the prohibition against marrying "strange wives" can be applied to the Christian life today in terms of maintaining spiritual purity and devotion to God. Believers are encouraged to form relationships that support and strengthen their faith, avoiding partnerships that might lead them away from their commitment to Christ.Strange Wife

STRANGE WIFE

"Strange" as contrasted with "an Israelite." Such wives are spoken of in the King James Version Ezra 10:2, 11 (the English Revised Version "strange women," the American Standard Revised Version "foreign women"; see STRANGER AND SOJOURNER; in the parallel 1 Esdras 8:68-9:37, the King James Version uses "strange wives" and "strange women" indifferently, and the Revised Version (British and American) here follows the King James Version) as "wives of the people of the land," in taking whom the men of Israel are said to have "trespassed against their God." Accordingly such wives were "put away."

The Next Morning Dawned with all the Strange Half Mystical Glow of ...
... of the Marquis Fontenelle on one, and took it up with a strange uneasy dread ... frank
confession of his total unworthiness, asking her to be his wife,"the tears ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxiv the next morning dawned.htm

A Man who Would not Speak to his Wife.
... When he went out he wouldn't speak to his wife. ... Well, she thought this strange, but
she was sure he would have got all over whatever was wrong with him by ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a man who would not.htm

The Mountain Home
... one little ray of light had fallen from above, and a benighted conscience will lead
us into many strange and evil ways. After a time his wife died, sincerely ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xliii the mountain home.htm

A Prophet's Strange Providers
... Ahab brought a great outburst of Baal worship, imported by his Phoenician wife,
which threatened ... well have thought that God had sent him to a strange helper in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a prophets strange providers.htm

It was Friday Night, and Diamond, Like the Rest of the Household.. ...
... His father had been very gloomy"-so gloomy that he had actually been cross to his
wife. It is a strange thing how pain of seeing the suffering of those we ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 32 it was friday.htm

The Provinces.
... apprehensions."Intaphernes and family arrested."They are condemned to die."Alternative
offered to Intaphernes's wife."Her strange decision."Death of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter v the provinces.htm

Commandments to Women.
... thou desirest to be one of the faithful, and to please the Lord, O wife, do not ... if
she is to veil her face, and conceal it with modesty from strange men, how ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii commandments to women.htm

There is this Further, that in that Very Debt which Married ...
... chastity, renounce all adulterous compacts and resolutions, I count it strange if
even ... and female, neither the one the husband, nor the other the wife, of any ...
/.../augustine/on the good of marriage/section 4 there is this.htm

The Story of Samson, the Strong Man
... a company of Philistines, and killed them all, as a punishment for burning his wife. ...
He killed almost a thousand of the Philistines with this strange weapon. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of samson the.htm

Ambrose.
... of Kronos his father was cheated of its purpose because Rhea his wife, the mother
of ... in the field knows its proper food, and does not touch strange food; the ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents ambrose.htm

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