Ezra 10:33

Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

Ezra 10:33 (KJV)

Context

This verse is part of a public record in Ezra 10, when the Jewish people had returned from exile in Babylon. Ezra the priest led them in rebuilding the temple and restoring obedience to God’s law. The list names seven men from the family of Hashum who had married foreign wives. Similar lists appear for other families in Ezra 10:31-34, showing that this problem affected the whole community, not just one household.

Meaning

The names Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei are recorded without extra comment. Their inclusion in the sacred text shows that God knows each person individually and holds each one accountable. The sin was not a small mistake; it threatened the spiritual purity of the nation. Marrying women from surrounding pagan nations often led to idolatry, which had already brought divine judgment and exile. By naming these men, the text emphasizes that genuine repentance is personal and specific, not vague or anonymous.

Biblical connections

The New Testament echoes this concern for holy relationships. Paul warns believers not to be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers, because such close ties can pull them away from Christ. The principle behind the Old Testament command was to protect exclusive worship of the Lord. While Christians are not under Israel’s civil law, the call to pursue holiness in all relationships remains unchanged.

Application

These men agreed to separate from their foreign wives as an act of costly obedience. Their example challenges believers to examine their own lives for compromises with the world. Such compromises may seem acceptable to society, but they can weaken devotion to God. No family or individual is immune to the slow drift of spiritual compromise. Taking responsibility for sin often requires difficult, concrete actions, just as it did for these men.

Reflection

God’s Word preserves this detailed list as a lasting witness. It reminds us that restoration involves both community-wide reform and personal obedience. The willingness of these seven men to submit to Ezra’s reforms shows the gravity of sin and the uncompromising nature of repentance. Their names stand as a quiet but powerful call to full obedience and undivided loyalty to God.