It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
- BSB As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.
- NKJV So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
- NASB So when they heard the Law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.
- NLT When this passage of the Law was read, all those of foreign descent were immediately excluded from the assembly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Having heard the law, the people separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. It matters because hearing God's Word led to immediate, costly obedience and renewed holiness.
Overview
In response to Scripture, the community removed those of foreign mixture who compromised their covenant identity. The episode shows a people willing to act on God's Word even when it required hard separation. While this reflects Israel's call to holiness, the gospel ultimately reconciles believing Gentiles into one new people in Christ, separated not by ethnicity but by faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Neh 9:2The offspring of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
- Exod 12:38A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.
- Num 11:4The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
- Neh 10:28The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge, and understanding —
- Jas 1:27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
- Prov 6:23For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
- Ps 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
- Ps 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
- Ps 19:7–11Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
- Rom 3:20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
- Ezra 10:11Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.”
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 13:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.