Nehemiah 13:24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah.

◄ Nehemiah 13:24 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah.

English Standard Version
And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.

New American Standard Bible
As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.

King James Bible
And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.

International Standard Version
Furthermore, their children spoke half of the time in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Judah. Instead, they spoke in the languages of various peoples.

American Standard Version
and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And their children spoke half in the speech of Azotus, and could not speak the Jews' language, but they spoke according to the language of this and that people.

Darby Bible Translation
And their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

Young's Literal Translation
And of their sons, half are speaking Ashdoditish -- and are not knowing to speak Jewish -- and according to the language of people and people.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

13:23-31 If either parent be ungodly, corrupt nature will incline the children to take after that one; which is a strong reason why Christians should not be unequally yoked. In the education of children, great care should be taken about the government of their tongues; that they learn not the language of Ashdod, no impious or impure talk, no corrupt communication. Nehemiah showed the evil of these marriages. Some, more obstinate than the rest, he smote, that is, ordered them to be beaten by the officers according to the law, De 25:2,3. Here are Nehemiah's prayers on this occasion He prays, Remember them, O my God. Lord, convince and convert them; put them in mind of what they should be and do. The best services to the public have been forgotten by those for whom they were done, therefore Nehemiah refers himself to God, to recompense him. This may well be the summary of our petitions; we need no more to make us happy than this; Remember me, O my God, for good. We may humbly hope that the Lord will remember us and our services, although, after lives of unwearied activity and usefulness, we shall still see cause to abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes, and to cry out with Nehemiah, Spare me, O my God, according to the greatness of they mercy.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

24. could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people—a mongrel dialect imbibed from their mothers, together with foreign principles and habits.