The Meaning of Nehemiah 13:3 Explained

Nehemiah 13:3

KJV: Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, at their hearing the law, that they separate all the mixed people from Israel.

Darby: And it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

ASV: And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now it came to pass, when they had heard  the law,  that they separated  from Israel  all the mixed multitude. 

What does Nehemiah 13:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 13:1-14 - Neglect Of Religious Duties
In Nehemiah 12:44-47 we have recorded the care that was manifested for the worthy maintenance of those who ministered in sacred things. As a result there were glad outbursts of minstrelsy and holy joy. Make room in your life for songs and praises, Psalms 33:1. In the opening of Nehemiah 13:1-31 we see how the Word of God cuts like a two-edged sword against evil. Happy are they who attend to its solemn warnings. The law referred to here was Deuteronomy 23:3-5. Tobiah was an Ammonite, and it was a scandalous thing that the high priest was not only allied to him by marriage, but had cast out the stores of the Temple in order to make room for him in the sacred edifice. Tobiah's influence was so great that the rest shrank from putting the law of separation into operation against him. When Nehemiah returned from a long sojourn in Persia he cast out all of Tobiah's goods, and restored the chamber to its proper use. If we have given up a chamber in our heart to any Tobiah, we must be prepared to do likewise. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 13

1  Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude
4  Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed
10  He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15  the violation of the Sabbath;
23  and the marriages with the strange wives

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 13:3 mean?

So it when was they had heard - the Law that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel
וַיְהִ֖י כְּשָׁמְעָ֣ם אֶת־ הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ כָל־ עֵ֖רֶב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל

וַיְהִ֖י  So  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּשָׁמְעָ֣ם  when  was  they  had  heard 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַתּוֹרָ֑ה  the  Law 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ  that  they  separated 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּדַל  
Sense: to divide, separate.
עֵ֖רֶב  the  mixed  multitude 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב 
Sense: woof.
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל  from  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.