מַכְנַדְבַי (makh.nad.vay)
makh.nad.vay
Machnadebai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name makhnadebai appears only once in Scripture, recorded in Ezra 10:40 as one of the sons of Bani. This genealogical entry lists men who had married foreign women and subsequently put them away in response to Ezra’s call for covenant faithfulness during the post-exilic restoration.
Linguistically, the name is interpreted as meaning "he brought low my willing ones." While this etymology is noted in lexicons, the text itself offers no commentary on the personal life or character of makhnadebai. He serves merely as a named individual within a broader list of those who took action to separate from their non-Israelite wives.
This single occurrence highlights the historical context of religious reform in Jerusalem. The mention of his name preserves his identity among the community members who complied with Ezra’s directive, marking him as part of a specific generation that addressed intermarriage through separation rather than integration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Names like Machnadebai might seem obscure at first glance, appearing only once in the Bible within a long list of genealogies. Yet, these records serve as quiet witnesses to a time when God’s people were rebuilding their lives and their relationship with Him after exile. Each name represents a real person who made difficult choices to align their household with their faith commitments.
For you today, this reminds us that faithfulness is often lived out in the details of daily life. It is not always about grand public moments but about personal integrity and obedience to God’s word. Even when the path requires hard decisions, such as separating from relationships that compromise your spiritual standing, God honors those who seek to walk in truth.
Knowing that individuals like Machnadebai were remembered by name shows that God sees every effort made to honor Him. Your own steps toward faithfulness, however small they may seem, are recorded and valued by the Lord. Trust that He is working in your life just as He was in theirs, guiding you toward a deeper connection with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Machnadebai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַכְנַדְבַ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 10:40
Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
This verse lists Machnadebai among those who responded to Ezra’s call by ending marriages that violated covenant law, highlighting the seriousness of religious reform in post-exilic Judah.