Nehemiah 10 10

Nehemiah 10:10 kjv

And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Nehemiah 10:10 nkjv

Their brethren: Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Nehemiah 10:10 niv

and their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Nehemiah 10:10 esv

and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Nehemiah 10:10 nlt

and their fellow Levites: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Nehemiah 10 verses

Nehemiah 10 10 Meaning

Nehemiah 10:10 continues the list of Levite leaders who officially affixed their names and seals to the solemn covenant made by the returning exiles. Following the chief Levites mentioned in the previous verse, this verse enumerates more representatives of the Levitical families, signifying their collective and formal commitment to walk in God’s Law and observe His commands, judgments, and statutes as prescribed by Moses. This act underscored the importance of the Levites' role in the community's spiritual life and their dedication to the covenant.

Nehemiah 10 10 Context

Nehemiah chapter 10 recounts the solemn agreement, a formal sealed covenant, made by the community of Israel in Jerusalem after the reading of the Law by Ezra in chapter 8 and the great confession of sin and prayer in chapter 9. Having reaffirmed their commitment to God and His covenant, the people, led by their officials, priests, and Levites, formalized their pledge in writing. Nehemiah 10:10 specifically follows the verse that lists the chief Levites (10:9) who signed the document, adding more names of Levite representatives. This detail highlights the broad participation and formal buy-in from all levels of leadership, ensuring that the covenant renewal was a communal, authorized, and binding commitment by the entire assembly.

Nehemiah 10 10 Word analysis

• And with him their brethren,: This phrase links the individuals listed in Nehemiah 10:10 back to the prominent Levites named in 10:9, especially Jeshua (often understood as Jeshua the son of Azaniah from Neh 9:4), implying their collective association. "Brethren" (אֲחֵיהֶם - 'ăḥêhem) signifies kinship, professional solidarity, and shared purpose among the Levites in serving God and His Law. It emphasizes unity and the wide representation of the Levitical body.
• Shebaniah: (שְׁבַנְיָה - Sheban'yah) – "Yah has caused to dwell."
• Hodiah: (הוֹדִיָּה - Howdiyyah) – "Yah is my splendor."
• Kelita: (קְלִיטָא - Qeliṭa') – Potentially "Lame" or a transliteration; mentioned as a Levite in Ezra 10:23 who returned from exile.
• Pelaiah: (פְּלָיָה - Pela'yah) – "Yah has done wondrously." Known as a Levite who helped explain the Law to the people (Neh 8:7).
• Hanan: (חָנָן - Ḥanan) – "Gracious."
• Mica: (מִיכָא - Mikha') – "Who is like Yah?" A name that reflects a profound theological question or statement about God's uniqueness.
• Rehob: (רְחוֹב - Rᵉḥob) – "Street" or "Broad place."
• Hashabiah: (חֲשַׁבְיָה - Ḥašab'yah) – "Yah has taken account" or "Yah has considered." This is a frequently occurring name for Levites, signifying a recognized lineage.
• Zaccur: (זַכּוּר - Zakkuwr) – "Mindful" or "Remembered."
• Sherebiah: (שֶׁרֵבְיָה - Sherēb'yah) – "Heat of Yah" or "Yah has cooled." A very prominent Levite leader who led a group of returnees with Ezra and was entrusted with the temple treasures (Ezra 8:18-20, Neh 8:7, 9:4). His inclusion here shows significant Levitical leadership endorsing the covenant.
• Chenaniah: (כְּנַנְיָה - Kᵉnan'yah) – "Yah has established" or "Yah is my foundation."
• Elem: (אֵלֶם - ʾÊlem) – "Strong man" or "Oak."
• Malluch: (מַלּוּךְ - Malluwk) – "Regent" or "Reigning."
• Harim: (חָרִים - Ḥariym) – "Consecrated." While primarily a priestly family name, it also appears for a family whose descendants returned from exile. Here, it likely refers to a Levite.
• Baanah: (בַּעֲנָה - Baʿanah) – "Son of affliction" or "In misery."

• Shebaniah... Baanah (list of names): This extensive list of fifteen specific names signifies the comprehensive participation and endorsement of the Levite leadership in sealing the covenant. Their presence underscores the solemnity and official nature of the agreement, as their signatures represented the entire Levitical body responsible for worship, teaching, and administering the temple and its tithes. Their commitment was crucial for the spiritual restoration of the community, indicating broad-based support for a life governed by God's Law.

Nehemiah 10 10 Bonus section

The act of listing names to authenticate a document or agreement (sealing a covenant) was a standard legal practice in the ancient Near East. The formal written nature of the covenant in Nehemiah 10 signifies its enduring importance, beyond a mere verbal agreement, reflecting a deep, solemn commitment to God's commandments for future generations. Many of these Levites likely served as gatekeepers, treasurers, and singers, critical roles in the restored temple service. Their signatures reinforced their commitment to uphold these duties faithfully according to God's Law.

Nehemiah 10 10 Commentary

Nehemiah 10:10, a straightforward list of names, plays a vital role in validating the sincerity and communal breadth of the renewed covenant. It details the additional Levite representatives who officially affixed their seals to the binding document, ensuring that this pivotal commitment extended beyond just a few principal figures to encompass a substantial segment of the spiritual leadership. The repetition of names, or the listing of many names, as seen here, in other biblical passages (e.g., in Ezra and Chronicles), serves not as mere genealogy, but as concrete evidence of those who took responsibility and committed themselves to a collective spiritual direction. For the post-exilic community, the active involvement of the Levites—responsible for teaching, temple service, and administering tithes—was absolutely essential for successful adherence to the Law. This verse assures the reader that these crucial stewards of the covenant were indeed on board.