Elioenai אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי
An Israelite who married a foreign woman.
Who is Elioenai in the Bible?
Elioenai was an Israelite who married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile and is mentioned in Ezra 10:27. After the Jewish people returned to Jerusalem following their captivity, the priest Ezra discovered that many Israelites, including Elioenai, had intermarried with neighboring peoples in violation of God's covenant. As part of Ezra's reform movement to restore religious purity and covenant faithfulness, Elioenai agreed to separate from his foreign wife. His inclusion in this account illustrates the tension between cultural assimilation and religious identity during the post-exilic restoration period, and demonstrates the community's commitment to renewing their covenant with God.
Biography
Elioenai is listed in the Book of Ezra as one of the Israelites who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile (Ezr.10.27). After the return to Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many Israelites had intermarried with the neighboring peoples, which was a violation of 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.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:27
"From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי |