Nehemiah 10:13 kjv
Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
Nehemiah 10:13 nkjv
Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu.
Nehemiah 10:13 niv
Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.
Nehemiah 10:13 esv
Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
Nehemiah 10:13 nlt
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
Nehemiah 10 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 13:2 | "Consecrate to Me every firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast..." | Command to dedicate firstborn, foreshadowing redemption. |
| Exod 13:12 | "...you shall devote to the LORD every firstborn that opens the womb, and all the firstborn of your livestock..." | Reiteration of dedication of firstborn to the Lord. |
| Exod 22:29 | "You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and your wine. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me." | Giving firstborn sons and produce. |
| Exod 34:19 | "All that open the womb are Mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep." | God's claim of ownership over all firstborn. |
| Lev 27:26 | "But a firstborn of animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the LORD, no one may consecrate it..." | Firstborn animals already belong to the Lord. |
| Num 3:13 | "For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified for Myself all the firstborn in Israel..." | God's claim based on the Exodus deliverance. |
| Num 8:17 | "For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are Mine, both of man and of beast..." | Reinforces divine ownership from Egypt to Israel. |
| Num 18:15 | "Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours...the firstborn of man you shall redeem..." | Provision for the priests, redemption of human firstborn. |
| Num 18:17 | "But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem..." | Unredeemable nature of clean firstborn animals for sacrifice. |
| Deut 15:19 | "Every firstborn male born of your herd and flock you shall consecrate to the LORD your God." | Command to consecrate clean firstborn animals. |
| Deut 15:20 | "You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place that the LORD will choose..." | Instructions for eating clean firstborn offerings. |
| Neh 10:35 | "We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree..." | Parallel commitment for firstfruits of produce. |
| Ezek 20:25-26 | "Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good...in giving over all their firstborn, that I might devastate them..." | God's perspective on misused or rebellious offerings of firstborn. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me...in tithes and contributions...Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." | Robbing God by withholding required portions, including firstfruits/tithes. |
| Rom 11:16 | "If the first part of the dough is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches." | Principle of holiness: the consecration of a part sanctifies the whole. |
| Col 1:15 | "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." | Christ as the ultimate firstborn, preeminent over creation. |
| Heb 12:23 | "...to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven..." | Believers in Christ as spiritual firstborn, signifying divine election and inheritance. |
| James 1:18 | "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." | Believers as firstfruits, belonging to God and set apart. |
| Rev 1:5 | "...and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth." | Christ as the first to rise from the dead, having preeminence. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "knowing that you were ransomed...not with perishable things...but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." | Redemption principle echoing the firstborn and Passover Lamb. |
| Exod 4:22 | "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son...'" | Israel itself is called God's firstborn son. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled..." | Command to honor God with the best, ensuring blessing. |
| Mic 6:7 | "Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams...Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression...?" | Questioning the purpose of ultimate sacrifice, contrasting human efforts with divine requirements. |
Nehemiah 10 verses
Nehemiah 10 13 Meaning
Nehemiah 10:13 describes a specific commitment made by the Israelite community during their covenant renewal after returning from exile. It outlines their pledge to dedicate "the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the Law," including "the firstborn of our herds and our flocks," to the Lord. This verse signifies their re-affirmation of ancient Mosaic commands concerning the consecration and redemption of the firstborn, recognizing God's ultimate claim over all creation and their deep-seated dependence on His provision and blessing.
Nehemiah 10 13 Context
Nehemiah 10 falls within a crucial period of spiritual renewal for the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Chapters 8-10 describe a great gathering where Ezra reads the Law, the people confess their sins and renew their covenant with God. Chapter 9 details a comprehensive historical prayer acknowledging God's faithfulness and Israel's continuous rebellion. Following this, Chapter 10 lists the specific individuals who sealed a solemn agreement (Neh 9:38). The entire chapter outlines the specific commitments the people made, promising to walk in God's Law and obey His commandments (Neh 10:29). Verse 13 is one such commitment, specifying their adherence to the established laws concerning offerings and firstborn dedication. This renewed pledge indicates a deliberate choice to live in accordance with God's commands, demonstrating their earnest desire to avoid the past failures of their ancestors.
Nehemiah 10 13 Word analysis
- And the firstborn: The Hebrew word is bĕkowr (בְּכוֹר), referring to that which is born first. This term holds immense theological significance, as it implies both priority and the special claim of ownership. In Israelite society, the firstborn inherited a double portion and held a place of prominence. For God to claim the firstborn signifies His supreme sovereignty and right over the very best and all origins of life. It connects to the theme of consecration and setting apart for God.
- of our sons: This highlights the deeply personal and sacrificial nature of the pledge. The redemption of the human firstborn, specifically sons, was a distinct command in the Law (Exod 13:13; Num 18:15). The Levites later served as a substitute for all the firstborn of Israel, emphasizing the tribe dedicated entirely to the Lord's service.
- and of our livestock: The Hebrew term is bĕhemah (בְּהֵמָה), a general term for animals, particularly cattle or domesticated animals. This encompasses a broad category, indicating that every aspect of their livelihood and increase was subject to God's claim.
- as it is written in the Law: This phrase, kaʾašer kaṯûḇ batōrâ (כַּאֲשֶׁר כָּת֣וּב בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה), serves as a direct and authoritative reference to the Mosaic Law (Torah). It underlines the basis of their pledge—not new commands, but a renewed commitment to existing divine stipulations found primarily in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This phrase reinforces the legal and covenantal foundation of their promise. It underscores the concept that their obedience was not arbitrary but rooted in divine instruction, demonstrating humility and a desire to align with God's historical commands.
- and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks: This specification (cattle and sheep/goats) reiterates and clarifies "livestock." Herds (baqar) and flocks (tson) represented their primary agricultural wealth and source of food, clothing, and sacrifice. The inclusion of these specific categories signifies the comprehensive nature of their commitment to bringing the best and the first, demonstrating faith in God's ongoing provision. This practice distinguished Israel from surrounding cultures, which often dedicated the firstborn to pagan deities or ignored divine claims entirely.
Nehemiah 10 13 Bonus section
The commitment regarding the firstborn extended beyond mere financial or agricultural obligation; it was deeply theological. It served as a constant reminder of God's act of sparing Israel's firstborn during the tenth plague in Egypt (Exod 12:29). Thus, every dedication of a firstborn was a reliving of divine deliverance and a testimony to God's proprietorship over life itself. This established a precedent that the "first" or "best" belonged to God, fostering a mindset of gratitude and submission. In a broader spiritual sense, the concept of "firstborn" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is described as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15) and the "firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18; Rev 1:5), signifying His supreme authority, unique position, and initiating role in new creation and resurrection. The principle remains: what is truly 'first' and most valuable ultimately belongs to and is to be dedicated to God.
Nehemiah 10 13 Commentary
Nehemiah 10:13 reflects a foundational aspect of Israel's covenant relationship with God: the recognition of His absolute ownership and sovereignty. By pledging to dedicate their firstborn sons and livestock "as it is written in the Law," the returned exiles were explicitly re-committing to principles established centuries earlier at Sinai. This was not a new burden but a revival of ancient piety, a tangible expression of their repentance and a proactive step in securing God's blessings. The dedication of the firstborn acknowledged God's redemptive power (recalling the Passover in Egypt) and His sustained provision. It instilled a sense of trust that giving God the "first and best" would ensure the holiness and blessing of the entire family and all their possessions. This act of systematic offering cemented their communal identity under God's Law and served as a powerful declaration of renewed fidelity, preventing a return to the neglect and unfaithfulness that had led to their exile.