Bani בָּנִי
An Israelite who agreed to put away his foreign wife.
Who is Bani in the Bible?
Bani was an Israelite who lived during the time of Ezra's return from Babylonian exile and is mentioned in Ezra 10:34 among those who had married foreign women. After discovering that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with neighboring peoples in violation of God's command not to marry the idolatrous nations (Deuteronomy 7:3-4), Ezra called for repentance and urged the people to separate from their foreign wives. Bani responded to this call by agreeing to put away his foreign wife in obedience to God's law. His willingness to do so demonstrated a commitment to holiness and helped preserve the distinct religious and cultural identity of the Jewish community during a critical period of restoration.
Biography
Bani is listed in Ezr.10.34 among the men who had married foreign women during the time of Ezra. After the return from Babylonian exile, Ezra discovered that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the neighboring peoples (Ezr.9.1-2). This was seen as a violation of God's command not to intermarry with the idolatrous nations (Deu.7.3-4). Ezra called the people to repentance and urged them to separate from their foreign wives (Ezr.10.10-11). Bani was one of those who agreed to put away his foreign wife in obedience to God's law. This act demonstrated a commitment to holiness and a desire to maintain the distinct identity of the Jewish community.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:34
"From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,"
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בָּנִי |