Who was Binnui in the Bible?

Binnui was a man from the family of Pahath-moab who returned to Jerusalem from exile. He is noted for divorcing his foreign wife in obedience to Ezra's call for the people to separate from pagan influences (Ezra 10:30).

Why did Binnui divorce his wife?

Binnui divorced his foreign wife as part of Ezra's religious reforms to restore Israel's covenant faithfulness. This action was taken to separate the community from the idolatrous practices of neighboring nations, as commanded in the Law (Ezra 10:10-11).

What is the significance of Binnui's story?

Binnui's story highlights the difficult personal obedience required during a national spiritual revival. It serves as a specific example of the community's commitment to purity and covenant renewal under Ezra's leadership (Ezra 10:44).

Binnui

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleWife

Binnui, one of the descendants of Pahath-moab, divorced his foreign wife during Ezra's reforms.

Binnui

Biography

This Binnui appears in Ezra 10:30 among the descendants of Pahath-moab who had taken foreign wives and were required to divorce them during Ezra's sweeping religious reform. Pahath-moab was a prominent clan among the returning exiles, likely descended from an official who had governed in Moab prior to the exile. Ezra's confrontation with the issue of intermarriage arose from a concern not primarily ethnic but theological: foreign wives had repeatedly drawn Israel into idolatry (cf. 1 Kings 11:1-8; Nehemiah 13:26). Binnui's compliance with Ezra's directive represents a painful but decisive act of covenant obedience, choosing fidelity to the community's call to holiness over personal relationships. His name is listed among many others who similarly acted.

Significance

Binnui's compliance with Ezra's marriage reform (Ezra 10:30) illustrates one of Scripture's most demanding calls: that covenant loyalty sometimes requires painful personal sacrifice. The theological stakes were high, the returned community's identity as a holy people distinct from surrounding nations was foundational to their mission. While modern readers may struggle with the harshness of this decree, the underlying principle is clear: spiritual compromise through assimilation posed an existential threat to the community's covenant relationship with God. Binnui's obedience, however costly, reflects the kind of whole-hearted devotion Ezra sought to instill. His story challenges believers to examine areas where cultural accommodation may be slowly eroding their distinctive calling.

Verse Appearances (1)

Ezra

Ezra 10:30

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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