Bedeiah בֵּֽדְיָה
An Israelite who married a foreign woman during the exile.
Who is Bedeiah in the Bible?
Bedeiah was an Israelite mentioned in Ezra 10:35 who had married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile. When the exiles returned to Jerusalem, the priest Ezra identified intermarriage with neighboring peoples as a violation of God's law and a threat to the spiritual integrity of the community. Bedeiah was among those who confessed this sin and agreed to send away his foreign wife in compliance with Ezra's reform. His inclusion in this list demonstrates the community's commitment to maintaining religious and ethnic separation as they sought to restore proper worship and obedience to God's covenant after the exile.
Biography
Bedeiah is mentioned in Ezr.10.35 as one of the Israelites who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile. The context of the passage is Ezra's reform, where he addressed the issue of intermarriage between the returned exiles and the neighboring peoples. This practice was seen as a violation of God's law and a threat to the spiritual purity of the community. Ezra called for the people to confess their sin and to separate themselves from their foreign wives and children. Bedeiah is listed among those who agreed to send away their foreign wives, demonstrating his compliance with Ezra's directive.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:35
"Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בֵּֽדְיָה |