Nehemiah 10:2 kjv
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Nehemiah 10:2 nkjv
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Nehemiah 10:2 niv
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Nehemiah 10:2 esv
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Nehemiah 10:2 nlt
The following priests: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Nehemiah 10 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 10:1 | Now these are the names of those who set their seal... Nehemiah the governor | Precedes the priests in signing the covenant. |
| Neh 9:38 | "Because of all this, we are making an agreement in writing, and on the sealed document are the names of our officials, our Levites and our priests." | Directly states the purpose of the list. |
| Neh 10:3 | and the rest of the priests: Jeshua... | Continues the list of priestly signers. |
| Ezra 7:1-5 | Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah... | Connects to priestly lineage including Seraiah. |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty. | Highlights the priest's role in teaching the Law. |
| 1 Chr 6:4-15 | Genealogies of Aaron's descendants, including Seraiah and Azariah in high priestly lines. | Shows prominence of these names in priestly families. |
| 2 Ki 25:18-21 | Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest... captured and executed by Babylonians. | Shows Seraiah's prominence in the high priesthood before exile. |
| 2 Chr 26:17-18 | Azariah the priest, and with him eighty priests of the LORD, men of valor, went in after King Uzziah. | Shows an Azariah confronting royal disobedience, exemplifying faithful priestly leadership. |
| Josh 24:25-27 | So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made for them a statute and an ordinance... he wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. | Demonstrates earlier covenant renewal events. |
| 2 Ki 23:1-3 | Josiah renews the covenant after the discovery of the Book of the Law, reading it to all the people. | Parallel of leadership-led covenant renewal. |
| Deut 29:10-15 | All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—your heads of tribes... to enter into the covenant of the LORD your God. | Shows collective responsibility in covenant. |
| Ex 24:3-8 | Moses read the Book of the Covenant in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." | The foundational act of entering the Sinai covenant. |
| Neh 8:7-8 | The Levites helped the people to understand the Law... reading from the book of the Law of God, making it clear. | Reinforces the teaching role of religious leaders. |
| Deut 33:10 | They shall teach your rules to Jacob, and your law to Israel... | Priestly duty to teach and instruct the people. |
| Heb 8:6-13 | But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better. | Explores the concept of new vs. old covenants. |
| Ps 103:17-18 | But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant. | Underscores the enduring nature and blessings of covenant. |
| Matt 5:17-19 | Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. | Jesus's affirmation of the enduring principles of the Law. |
| Rom 3:31 | Do we then nullify the law through faith? By no means! Rather, we uphold the law. | Highlights the enduring ethical implications of the Law. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... | Spiritual identity of believers as a priesthood. |
| Rev 1:6 | and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father... | Fulfillment of the priestly role for believers in Christ. |
Nehemiah 10 verses
Nehemiah 10 2 Meaning
Nehemiah 10:2 initiates the formal list of priestly individuals who, along with Nehemiah the governor, the Levites, and the heads of the people, solemnly sealed a covenant to walk in God’s Law. This verse specifically names Seraiah, Azariah, and Jeremiah, indicating prominent priests who took personal and representative responsibility for upholding the commitments outlined in the preceding chapter, primarily obedience to the Mosaic Law, support of temple worship, and observance of the Sabbath and tithing. This act solidified the spiritual restoration of the community, aiming to prevent future deviation from God's commands.
Nehemiah 10 2 Context
Nehemiah chapter 10 records the formal sealing of a solemn covenant by the repatriated Jewish community in Jerusalem following the completion of the wall and a spiritual revival ignited by Ezra's public reading of the Law (Neh 8-9). This specific chapter enumerates the signatories to this binding agreement. Having been exhorted by Nehemiah and Ezra about past disobedience leading to their exile, the people enthusiastically committed to avoiding previous errors. Verse 1 lists Nehemiah the governor as the first signatory, representing the civil authority. Verses 2-8 then list the names of the priests, establishing their central role as spiritual leaders who affirmed their responsibility to uphold and teach God's commandments. Their inclusion underscored the nation's renewed dedication to the Law and a purified worship, crucial for their identity as God's covenant people.
Nehemiah 10 2 Word analysis
- Seraiah (שְׂרָיָה – Serayah): A prominent Hebrew name meaning "Jehovah is a prince" or "Soldier of the Lord." This name often appears in the high priestly lineage, tracing back to Aaron. A notable Seraiah was the high priest executed by Babylonians during the destruction of Jerusalem (2 Ki 25:18). Another Seraiah appears in Ezra’s priestly genealogy (Ezra 7:1). In Nehemiah 10, this individual is likely a leading priest or the head of an influential priestly family, whose participation lends significant spiritual authority to the covenant, symbolizing the commitment of the ancient and continuous priestly order.
- Azariah (אֲזַרְיָה – Azaryah): A widely used Hebrew name meaning "Helped by Jehovah" or "The Lord has helped." Many individuals bore this name in the Old Testament, including kings, prophets, and especially priests, some even serving as high priests (1 Chr 6:10, 2 Chr 26:17-18). The frequency of this name points to a widespread acknowledgement of divine assistance. Its inclusion signifies the broad representation and collective affirmation of the priestly community in recommitting to God’s laws.
- Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָה – Yirmeyah): A Hebrew name often interpreted as "Jehovah founds," "Jehovah lifts up," or contextually, "Jehovah throws" or "casts down." While immediately evocative of the prophet Jeremiah, the individual here is distinct, likely also a priest or a head of a family from priestly or Levite lineage (compare 1 Chr 12:4). His presence among the signatories further confirms the extensive support and participation from all facets of the spiritual leadership in this significant act of covenant renewal, adding to its weight and authority.
- Words-group: "Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,": This triplet marks the initial segment of the priestly signatories to the covenant. Their placement directly following Nehemiah, the civil governor, highlights the paramount importance of religious leadership in the renewed life of the community. These three individuals are not just random names but likely representatives or heads of major priestly families, signifying the official and unified consent of the Aaronic priesthood to abide by, teach, and enforce God's Law among the people. Their prominent position underlines the spiritual and foundational commitment to God’s covenant as integral to the restored nation's identity and future obedience.
Nehemiah 10 2 Bonus section
The systematic order of signatures (governor, then priests, Levites, and finally heads of the people) in Nehemiah 10 reflects a well-organized hierarchical structure in post-exilic Jewish society, emphasizing collective accountability from top to bottom. This covenant was not merely a ceremonial act but a solemn and legally binding agreement, sealed to affirm their corporate identity and obligations as God's covenant people. The names, particularly those common in priestly lineages, signify the continuity of Israel’s foundational institutions even after the profound disruption of the Babylonian exile, underscoring God’s faithfulness in preserving a remnant and its sacred order. This formal sealing reiterated the relational nature of the covenant, where obedience promised blessing and disobedience led to consequences, recalling the warnings and promises of Deuteronomy.
Nehemiah 10 2 Commentary
Nehemiah 10:2 is brief but profoundly significant, listing three foundational names representing the priestly contingent who ratified the covenant. The individuals Seraiah, Azariah, and Jeremiah, as heads or representatives of priestly families, provided spiritual legitimacy and leadership to the communal recommitment to the Mosaic Law. This act was crucial for the spiritual restoration of Israel after the exile, signifying that the very spiritual authority of the nation was formally pledging to uphold God's statutes. Their participation assured the community that divine laws regarding temple maintenance, tithing, and Sabbath observance would be taught and enforced, distinguishing Israel as a distinct people devoted solely to Yahweh and aiming to avoid the past deviations that led to God’s judgment and their prior exile. It sets a pattern for how a community can collectively and intentionally realign itself with divine will through decisive leadership.