Shemariah שְׁמַרְיָ֫הוּ
Israelite who married a foreign woman
Who is Shemariah in the Bible?
Shemariah was an Israelite mentioned in Ezra 10:32 who had married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile. He was among the Jewish people who faced a crisis of identity and religious purity after returning to Jerusalem, as intermarriage with surrounding peoples had become common in the community. When Ezra the priest and scribe addressed this issue, Shemariah joined others in agreeing to separate from his foreign wife and children in order to maintain the integrity of the Jewish faith. His inclusion in this list represents the broader theological concern of the post-exilic community about preserving Jewish identity and covenant faithfulness during a vulnerable period of restoration.
Biography
Shemariah is mentioned in Ezr.10.32 as one of the Israelites who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile. This was part of a larger issue facing the Jewish community after their return to Jerusalem, as many had intermarried with the surrounding peoples. Ezra, a priest and scribe, called for the people to separate themselves from their foreign wives and children to maintain the purity and integrity of the Jewish faith. Shemariah, along with the other Israelites who had married foreign women, agreed to put away their wives in obedience to Ezra's directive.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:32
"Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah."
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׁמַרְיָ֫הוּ |