Nehemiah 10 27

Nehemiah 10:27 kjv

Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

Nehemiah 10:27 nkjv

Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

Nehemiah 10:27 niv

Malluk, Harim and Baanah.

Nehemiah 10:27 esv

Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

Nehemiah 10:27 nlt

Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

Nehemiah 10 27 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ex 24:7-8"...All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient..."Sinai Covenant: people affirm their commitment.
Deut 29:10-13"...all of you stand today before the LORD your God..."Covenant renewal at Moab: all commit to the Law.
Josh 24:25"...So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day..."Covenant renewal at Shechem under Joshua.
2 Ki 23:3"...to keep his commandments... with all their heart..."King Josiah's covenant renewal.
2 Chr 15:12-15"...they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD..."King Asa's covenant of seeking God.
Jer 31:33"...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..."Prophecy of the New Covenant's inner nature.
Ezek 36:26-27"...And I will give you a new heart... cause you to walk in My statutes..."Promise of God's enablement for obedience.
Neh 9:38"...we are making a firm covenant and writing it..."Immediate context: the covenant being made.
Neh 10:29"...all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands..."Purpose of the sealing: commitment to God's Law.
Ezra 2:2-64"...These are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity..."Lists of returned exiles, emphasizing identity.
Neh 7:7-60"...These are the sons of the province who came up out of the captivity..."Another extensive list of returnees/families.
Phil 4:3"...whose names are in the book of life."Importance of names in divine record.
Rev 3:5"...I will not blot his name out of the book of life..."Perseverance and inclusion in God's register.
Rev 13:8"...whose names have not been written before the foundation..."Book of life containing the chosen.
Rom 12:4-5"...So we, though many, are one body in Christ..."Corporate body, individual roles and commitment.
1 Cor 12:12-27"...you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."Church as one body with many members.
1 Pet 2:9-10"...But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..."Identity and responsibility of God's people.
2 Cor 6:14-18"...Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers..."Principle of separation from the world.
Neh 13:1-3"...No Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God..."Exclusion of foreigners to maintain purity.
Neh 13:23-27"...Also in those days I saw the Jews who had married women..."Rejection of intermarriage.
Acts 2:37-38"...Repent and be baptized... for the forgiveness of your sins..."Repentance and public commitment in NT era.

Nehemiah 10 verses

Nehemiah 10 27 Meaning

Nehemiah 10:27 lists three names: Malluch, Harim, and Baanah. These individuals were heads of prominent families or clans among "the chief of the people" who formally sealed, or signed, the renewed covenant with God. This act was a solemn commitment by the entire Israelite community, led by these representatives, to walk in God's Law and observe all His commandments, ordinances, and statutes, after the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem and a period of spiritual confession and revival following the return from Babylonian exile. Their names signify their personal and communal accountability in upholding the Mosaic Law.

Nehemiah 10 27 Context

Nehemiah 10:27 is nestled within a detailed list (verses 1-27) of the names of the leaders, Levites, and chiefs of the people who sealed a covenant of renewal following a period of deep national confession and spiritual revival in post-exilic Jerusalem. This renewal took place after the completion of the city wall, providing physical security and allowing the community to focus on their spiritual state. The broader chapter (Nehemiah 10) elaborates on the specific terms of this renewed covenant, which included strict adherence to God's Law (Torah), commitment to proper temple worship and support, tithing, and avoiding intermarriage with foreign peoples—sins that had plagued Israel in the past and contributed to their exile. The names in verse 27 are not merely a registry; they represent the commitment of their respective families or clans, symbolizing the corporate and personal resolve to live faithfully according to God's divine stipulations. This collective act formalized the community's dedication to distinguish themselves as God's chosen people, set apart from surrounding pagan cultures.

Nehemiah 10 27 Word analysis

  • Malluch (מַלּוּךְ֙, Mallûkh): This Hebrew name means "ruler" or "kingly." Its inclusion here signifies that even those in positions of potential authority or prominence were submitting themselves and their households to the divine authority of God's Law. It underscores a humility and submission of human leadership to God's ultimate kingship.
  • Harim (חָרִם, Ḥārīm): This Hebrew name can mean "dedicated," "devoted," or "sacred." While Harim is also a known priestly family name (Neh 10:5), here it is listed among "the chiefs of the people," indicating a family head. The meaning "dedicated" resonates strongly with the context of covenant renewal, emphasizing the community's pledge to devote themselves entirely to God and His commands, rather than following past patterns of divided loyalties.
  • Baanah (בַּעֲנָה, Baʿanâ): This Hebrew name carries a meaning of "in affliction" or "son of an answer." Given the historical context of the Babylonian exile and the struggles of returning and rebuilding, "in affliction" could reflect the recent past of hardship and divine chastisement. Conversely, "son of an answer" could signify the Lord's merciful answer to their prayers and their return to the land, motivating them to dedicate themselves to God. Regardless of which interpretation is favored, the name subtly echoes the profound journey of suffering, repentance, and restoration that the community had undergone.
  • Words-group by words-group analysis: * "Malluch, Harim, Baanah": This listing of three distinct names is representative of the hundreds who affixed their seals (Neh 10:1) to the binding document. Each name, as a distinct head of a family or clan, served as a witness and signatory for their entire household, demonstrating that the covenant was not merely an individual pledge but a widespread, corporate commitment binding future generations. The inclusion of specific names emphasizes the serious, formal, and personal accountability involved in this significant public vow. Their willingness to be recorded served as a testimony and example for the wider community to remain steadfast in their adherence to God's statutes and to separate from practices that conflicted with the divine law.

Nehemiah 10 27 Bonus section

  • The emphasis on specific names in lists throughout Ezra and Nehemiah is a theological motif affirming the individual's significance before God, yet always within the framework of a collective identity as God's chosen people. It reinforces the idea that God knows and acknowledges each one.
  • The act of "sealing" was a legal formality in ancient Near Eastern contexts, making the covenant a legally binding document. It shows the seriousness of their pledge and their desire to formally establish their renewed commitment to Yahweh, distinguishing themselves clearly from surrounding peoples.
  • The names in these lists often served as historical records that could be used for genealogical purposes, confirming family lineages and claims within the post-exilic community, especially concerning priestly and Levitical duties, and tribal land distribution.
  • This moment was a deliberate "never again" declaration after the exile, signifying a collective resolve not to repeat the idolatry and disobedience that led to their displacement, showcasing a deep desire for spiritual transformation and continuity.

Nehemiah 10 27 Commentary

Nehemiah 10:27, though seemingly a simple list of names, holds profound theological and communal significance. These names, "Malluch, Harim, Baanah," represent prominent family heads who solemnly bound themselves and their descendants to the renewed covenant with God. This act was central to the post-exilic restoration, signifying a deliberate shift from past failures of covenant disobedience towards resolute faithfulness. It demonstrates that the spiritual revival led by Nehemiah and Ezra resulted in tangible, personal commitment at every level of society, from the highest leaders to the ordinary people. The individual names highlight personal accountability, while their collective appearance underscores corporate responsibility within the Israelite community to walk in strict obedience to the Law, supporting the Temple, and maintaining ritual purity. This voluntary sealing was a critical step in re-establishing their national and spiritual identity, ensuring that the lessons of exile—divine judgment for disobedience—were heeded by an enduring pledge to God's commandments.