Ezra 10:35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
The setting
Jerusalem, 458 BC. Public square. Men stand as their names are called - they must divorce their foreign wives and send away their children. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: heavy-hearted recording of necessary but painful obedience
The original word
nashim (נָשִׁים) — women, wives, but here meaning 'foreign wives who brought idolatry'
Why it matters
These men had to pay financial support to divorced wives - it wasn't abandonment but costly separation
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ezra 10:35
Each name represents a family torn apart - real children losing fathers, real women losing husbands
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows God hates foreigners. Actually, it shows God hates idolatry - these specific marriages were pulling Israel away from worshiping the one true God.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ezra 10:35
Bible Genome reading
Ezra 10:35 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ezra 10:35 comes from the book of Ezra, written during the Post-Exile period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the genealogy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include repentance, family restoration. Notable phrases: Benaiah; Bedeiah.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Ezra 10:35 mean to you, today?
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