Strange Wife
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
In the King James Version, the term 'strange wives' denotes non-Israelite women married by Israelite men, an act viewed as a violation of divine law that necessitated the dissolution of these unions.
What is the meaning of Strange Wife in the Bible?
In the King James Version, the term 'strange wives' denotes non-Israelite women married by Israelite men, an act viewed as a violation of divine law that necessitated the dissolution of these unions.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing this concept illuminates the rigorous enforcement of ethnic and religious boundaries during the post-exilic period, revealing why Ezra and Nehemiah mandated the repudiation of foreign marriages to preserve the community's covenantal identity.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Strange Wife in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Strange Wife clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.