Elijah אֵלִיָּה
A descendant of Elam who married a foreign woman.
Who is Elijah in the Bible?
Elijah was a descendant of Elam who married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile, as recorded in Ezra 10:26. After the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, the priest Ezra discovered that many had intermarried with neighboring peoples in violation of God's commands. Elijah was among those confronted about his foreign marriage and agreed to dissolve the union as part of the covenant renewal that Ezra led. His story illustrates the tension between cultural assimilation and religious faithfulness during Israel's restoration after exile, and his willingness to obey Ezra's directive demonstrated his commitment to the community's spiritual reformation.
Biography
Elijah is listed in the Book of Ezra as one of the descendants of Elam who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile (Ezr.10.26). After the return to Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many Israelites had intermarried with the neighboring peoples, which was a violation of God's command. Elijah was among those who had taken foreign wives, but he agreed to put away his wife as part of the covenant renewal led by Ezra.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:26
"From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֵלִיָּה | ʾēliyāh | Elijah , the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites |