1 esdras 9:17 - So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 9:17

What does "1 esdras 9:17" mean?


This verse from 1 Esdras 9:17 refers to the resolution of the issue of Jewish men marrying foreign wives after the return from the Babylonian exile. Let's break it down:

"Their cause that held strange wives...": "Their cause" refers to the problem or situation created by Jewish men having married "strange wives" (foreign, non-Jewish women). These marriages were seen as a problem because they were forbidden under Jewish law and were believed to lead to religious impurity and the potential corruption of Jewish traditions.

"...was brought to an end...": This indicates that the issue was resolved or dealt with in some way.

"...by the new moon of the first month.": "The new moon of the first month" marks a specific time: the beginning of the religious year in the Jewish calendar (Nisan/Abib). The new moon held religious significance, marking the start of each month and serving as a time for offerings and festivals. The reference to this particular new moon suggests that this resolution occurred at a very specific and significant time.

In context, the chapter describes Ezra leading the people to acknowledge their sin of marrying foreign women. The men agreed to put away their foreign wives and children. The verse indicates that this process was completed (or at least formally concluded) by the new moon of the first month.

In essence, the verse signifies the completion of the mandated separation from foreign wives, timed with the beginning of the new religious year, emphasizing the community's commitment to religious purity and obedience to Jewish law.