Jeremai
Who was Jeremai in the Bible?
A descendant of Hashum who was among the Israelites required to separate from foreign wives during the post-exilic reforms led by Ezra.
Jeremai was a member of the post-exilic Jewish community who returned to Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity. His name, derived from the Hebrew root meaning "exalted" or "elevated," appears in the context of the sweeping religious and social reforms instituted by the priest and scribe Ezra in the mid-5th century BC.
Historically, Jeremai is identified as a descendant of the house of Hashum. His presence in the biblical record is limited to a specific list of men who had intermarried with non-Israelite women, a practice deemed a violation of the Mosaic covenant by the leadership of the returnees.
Background and Family
Jeremai is identified in the Masoretic Text as a descendant of Hashum. The family of Hashum was a significant clan during the period of the Return; according to the census records in Ezra 2:19 and Nehemiah 7:22, several hundred members of this family returned from Babylon to Judea. While Jeremai's immediate parents are not named, his inclusion in the list of Ezra 10 indicates he was a man of sufficient standing and age to have established a household during the post-exilic era.
Major Life Events
The singular recorded event in Jeremai's life occurs during the arrival of Ezra in Jerusalem (c. 458 BC). Upon discovering that many of the returnees—including priests, Levites, and commoners—had married women from the surrounding pagan nations, Ezra led the community in a mass act of repentance. Jeremai is listed among the seven descendants of Hashum who had taken such wives and subsequently agreed to the "covenant to put away" these wives and their children to preserve the ritual and ethnic purity of the community.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Jeremai is mentioned alongside six other kinsmen from the line of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Manasseh, and Shimei. His primary historical interaction is with the reforms of Ezra the Scribe. There is no biblical evidence to suggest he held a specific office such as a priest or Levite, though his naming in the official register suggests he was a recognized head of a sub-household within the tribe.
Spiritual Significance
The mention of Jeremai serves as a testament to the rigorous standards of the post-exilic restoration. His inclusion highlights the personal cost of the reforms, as he was one of the individuals who participated in a painful communal separation to adhere to the Law of Moses. His story reflects the broader theme of the "holy seed" attempting to distinguish itself from the syncretism that had characterized the pre-exilic period.
Jeremai’s significance lies in his role as a representative of the returned exiles who submitted to the difficult demands of the Ezraic reforms. His name contributes to the historical authenticity of the genealogical records in the Book of Ezra, grounding the theological narrative of repentance in specific, individual lives.
He serves as a micro-example of the community's shift toward strict legal adherence following the trauma of the Babylonian Exile. His inclusion in the list of those who 'had taken foreign wives' underscores the pervasive nature of intermarriage across different families of the returnees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Jeremai mean?
The name Jeremai (יְרֵמַי) is of Hebrew origin, likely meaning 'exalted' or 'dwelling in heights.'
Which family did Jeremai belong to?
Jeremai was a descendant of Hashum, a family that returned from the Babylonian Exile.
What did Jeremai do in the Book of Ezra?
He was one of the men who confessed to marrying a foreign woman and agreed to divorce her as part of Ezra's religious reforms.
How many times is Jeremai mentioned in the Bible?
Jeremai is mentioned only once, in Ezra 10:33.
Categories
Mentions by Book
- Ezra1
Scripture References
All 1 indexed verse, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
Ezra · 1
- Ezra 10:33
From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.