Elioenai אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי
A priest who married a foreign woman.
Who is Elioenai in the Bible?
Elioenai was a priest mentioned in Ezra 10:22 who had married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile. When Ezra led a religious reform after the return to Jerusalem, he discovered that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with neighboring peoples in violation of God's law. Elioenai was among those confronted about this practice and agreed to divorce his foreign wife as part of a covenant renewal ceremony. His inclusion in this account illustrates the struggle of the Jewish community to maintain religious purity and obedience to God's commands during the challenging period of restoration after exile.
Biography
Elioenai is mentioned in the Book of Ezra as one of the priests who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile (Ezr.10.22). After the return to Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the neighboring peoples, which was against God's command. Elioenai 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. The Bible does not provide any further details about Elioenai's life or priestly duties.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:22
"From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah."
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי |