{
  "id": "dict_002744",
  "term": "Intermarriage",
  "slug": "intermarriage",
  "letter": "I",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "In Scripture, intermarriage usually refers to marriage between God’s people and those from surrounding pagan nations when such unions led toward idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The main concern is spiritual compromise, not ethnicity itself.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [
    "Intermarriage and apostasy cycle"
  ],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "The Bible warns against intermarriage when marriage with idol-worshiping peoples would draw Israel away from the Lord. This theme appears especially in the Law, the historical books, and the postexilic period. The concern is covenant loyalty and true worship, not a blanket rejection of all marriages across ethnic lines.",
  "description_academic_full": "In biblical usage, intermarriage most often describes marriages between members of God’s covenant people and those outside that covenant whose beliefs and practices threatened faithfulness to the Lord. Key passages warn Israel not to marry surrounding nations because such unions could turn hearts toward other gods and lead to disobedience. Later narratives, including the reforms associated with Ezra and Nehemiah, address this danger in the life of the restored community. Scripture’s central issue is therefore religious allegiance and covenant purity rather than ethnic superiority; this is seen in the Bible’s positive treatment of some foreigners who joined themselves to the Lord and his people. For Christian readers, the closest parallel is the New Testament warning against being joined in a way that compromises devotion to Christ, including marriage with an unbeliever.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "In Scripture, intermarriage usually refers to marriage between God’s people and those from surrounding pagan nations when such unions led toward idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The main concern is spiritual compromise, not ethnicity itself.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/intermarriage/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/intermarriage.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}