Strange Wives

Recently I was asked,

Ezra 10:44 (KJV)  ⁴⁴ All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

I’m confessed what do they mean by strange wives 

My Answer Follows 

Hello Sister, 

It is commonly taught that the Israelites had been commanded by God to only marry other Israelites.  They were not to go out and take wives of the pagan nations that surrounded Israel.  Unger’s Bible Dictionary states, 

Between an Israelite and a Foreigner. The only distinct prohibition in the Mosaic law refers to the Canaanites, with whom the Israelites were not to marry, on the ground that it would lead them to idolatry (Exodus 34:15-16; Deut. 7:3-4). The legal disabilities resting upon the Ammonites and the Moabites (Deut. 23:3) totally forbade marriage between them and Israelite women but permitted that of Israelites with Moabite women (Ruth 1:4). The prohibition against marriages with the Edomites and Egyptians was less stringent, as a male of those nations received the right of marriage on his admission to full citizenship in the third generation of proselytism (Deut. 23:7-8). Thus the prohibition was total in regard to Canaanites on either side, total on the side of males in regard to the Ammonites and Moabites, and temporary on the side of males in regard to the Edomites and Egyptians. In the case of wives, proselytism was not necessary, but it was so in the case of husbands.[1] 

However, the law was far stricter for the Priesthood.  Priests were forbidden to marry outside of the nation of Israel and they were to marry only virgins. 

Leviticus 21:13-14 ¹³ And he shall take a wife in her virginity. ¹⁴ A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

Ezra, in this context, is trying to reestablish the priesthood by naming those who were priests indeed.  Priests were priests, in those days because they were the heirs of Aaron and his sons.  Hence, you notice the references to their genealogies, they were proving who they were and what their heritage was.  The reference in this text to strange wives is a reference to those Priests who married wives from other nations. The problem and complaint was that while some priest could prove their heritage they had disqualified themselves for service because they had married outside of their nation. 

We learn much about holiness and standards from this passage. Far too often we want to lower God’s standards to our cultural norm.  But God is God and we must be right with God in everyway to be fully in fellowship with Him and to serve Him gloriously.  These national marriage requirements do not apply to Christians today, but the New Testament does say, 

2 Corinthians 6:13-18 ¹³ Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. ¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸ And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Born Again Christians should only married other Born Again Christians which follows the same principles you see being played out in Ezra.  I think it is important to note the when we are commanded to never be unequally yoked to unbelievers that this applies to many aspects of our lives, not just to marriage.  Christians should not be yoked legally to unbelievers, whether in business or other forms of legal contracts.  So, the principle can be applied in many ways to our Christian lives.