“Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?”
The full verse · Nehemiah 13:27 · KJV
Shall we then unto you to all this , to against our in ?
Asked by
Asked to
The Jewish community in Jerusalem who had been influenced by those advocating intermarriage with foreign women, particularly those who might follow the example of the high priest’s family.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionNehemiah rebukes the people by framing their potential compliance as choosing evil and covenant betrayal, making the gravity of intermarriage with foreign women undeniable and forcing them to recognize they cannot excuse such behavior simply because prominent leaders engaged in it.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe text records no verbal response, though Nehemiah’s immediate action was to chase away the high priest’s grandson who had married Sanballat’s daughter (Nehemiah 13:28).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyNehemiah’s question exposes the absurdity of listening to those who would lead Israel into covenant violation. The Hebrew construction intensifies the moral horror: ‘all this great evil’ (כָּל־הָרָעָה הַגְּדֹלָה הַזֹּאת) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the sin. By asking rather than simply commanding, Nehemiah forces his hearers to confront their own reasoning and see the logical impossibility of justifying such behavior. The question carries the weight of Israel’s entire history, invoking the memory of Solomon whose foreign wives turned his heart from God (1 Kings 11:1-8). Nehemiah’s passion for covenant purity reflects God’s own jealousy for His people’s exclusive devotion, making this rebuke both pastoral and prophetic.
When everyone else compromises, will you still stand for God’s standards? Nehemiah’s courage teaches us that popularity never justifies disobedience. When leaders fall or crowds follow error, God still calls His people to covenant faithfulness. This may mean confronting sin in your own faith community, refusing to participate in practices that violate Scripture, or standing alone when compromise seems easier. Remember that God values one faithful voice over a thousand who rationalize sin. As Psalm 119:128 declares, ‘I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.’ Your faithfulness today may prevent spiritual disaster tomorrow, and God honors those who refuse to be moved by majority opinion.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women?”
“Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city?”
“What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?”
“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?”