Nehemiah 10 29

Nehemiah 10:29 kjv

They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

Nehemiah 10:29 nkjv

these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

Nehemiah 10:29 niv

all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the LORD our Lord.

Nehemiah 10:29 esv

join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.

Nehemiah 10:29 nlt

joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the LORD our Lord:

Nehemiah 10 verses

Nehemiah 10 29 Meaning

Nehemiah 10:29 describes the comprehensive and solemn commitment of the returned exiles in Judah. The entire community, from the common people to their leaders, bound themselves by a conditional curse and a sworn oath. Their pledge was to faithfully and consistently live according to the entire Law of God, as it was divinely given through Moses, God's chosen servant. This collective vow encompassed all aspects of God's commands, statutes, and rules, demonstrating a renewed national dedication to obey the sovereign Lord in every facet of their lives.

Nehemiah 10 29 Context

Nehemiah 10:29 is part of a pivotal moment in the post-exilic history of Israel. Chapters 8-10 detail a spiritual revival and covenant renewal following the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. In Nehemiah 8, the Law of Moses was publicly read, leading to repentance and weeping among the people. Chapter 9 records a lengthy prayer of confession, recalling God's faithfulness despite Israel's consistent rebellion. This corporate repentance culminated in the formal covenant in Nehemiah 10, signed by leaders representing the entire community. Verse 29 specifically describes the comprehensive and binding nature of this new agreement. It highlights their resolve to re-establish themselves as God's people by committing to His foundational Law, recognizing past failures (such as intermarriage and Sabbath desecration), which will be addressed later in specific reforms.

Nehemiah 10 29 Word analysis

• all these: Refers to the collective body of people enumerated in the preceding verses (Neh 10:1-27) who participated in the signing of the covenant. This includes not just the priestly and Levitical families but also the heads of the people. It signifies a universal commitment across the social and spiritual spectrum of the community.
• joined with their brothers, their nobles: This phrase highlights unity and broad representation.
  • "brothers" ('akh - אָח): Denotes fellow kinsmen, a sense of shared community and identity among the returning exiles.
  • "nobles" (chorim - חֹרִים): Refers to the prominent men, leaders, or chief persons among them. This signifies that the covenant was not just a grassroots movement but also received full endorsement and participation from those in positions of influence and authority.
• and entered into a curse and an oath: This signifies the profound seriousness and binding nature of their commitment.
  • "curse" ('alah - אָלָה): An imprecation, a solemn conditional malediction invoked upon oneself if one fails to keep a vow or covenant. It indicates a clear understanding of the dire consequences—divine judgment—for disobedience. It mirrors covenant formulations in Deut 27 and Lev 26.
  • "oath" (sh'vuah - שְׁבוּעָה): A sworn pledge, a solemn promise, usually invoking God as a witness, making it divinely binding. It conveys the complete sincerity and determination of their resolve.
• to walk in God’s Law: (lalekhet b'Torat HaElohim - לָלֶכֶת בְּתוֹרַת הָאֱלֹהִים): This central pledge outlines the core commitment.
  • "walk" (halakh - הָלַךְ): Implies a continuous manner of life, a lifestyle of consistent adherence. It signifies not merely passive assent but active, ongoing obedience in every aspect of daily living.
  • "Law" (Torah - תּוֹרָה): More than mere rules, it means "instruction" or "teaching." It is God's revealed will and blueprint for how His people are to live in covenant relationship with Him, encompassing ethical, civil, and ritual instructions.
  • "God's Law": Emphasizes its divine origin and authority.
• which was given by Moses the servant of God: This phrase explicitly establishes the authority and divine source of the Law.
  • "given by Moses": Underscores Moses' role as the mediator through whom God conveyed His covenant and laws.
  • "servant of God" (eved HaElohim - עֶבֶד הָאֱלֹהִים): A title of high honor and intimacy, designating Moses' unique relationship with the Creator as His faithful messenger and agent.
• and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and His statutes and His ordinances: This specifies the comprehensive scope of their commitment.
  • "observe" (shamar - שָׁמַר): To guard, keep watch over, pay attention to. It suggests mental comprehension and diligent preservation of the Law's precepts.
  • "do" ('asah - עָשָׂה): To perform, carry out, act upon. It highlights practical application and living obedience.
  • "all": An emphatic qualifier, signifying that no part of God's revealed will would be intentionally excluded or ignored.
  • "commandments" (mitzvot - מִצְוֺת): Direct divine precepts or charges.
  • "statutes" (chukkim - חֻקִּים): Fixed decrees, established laws, often immutable and without immediate human reason, emphasizing divine prerogative in establishing them (e.g., ritual or cultic laws).
  • "ordinances" (mishpatim - מִשְׁפָּטִים): Judgments, rulings, judicial precedents, moral and ethical pronouncements that guide righteous living and societal conduct.
  • "Lord our Lord" (YHWH Adoneinu - יְהוָה אֲדֹנֵינוּ): A powerful declaration. "YHWH" (Lord) refers to the covenant God, the self-existent One. "Adoneinu" (our Lord/Master) highlights His absolute sovereignty and their personal allegiance and submission to Him as their Master. It underscores that their obedience is not to abstract rules but to their living and sovereign God.

Nehemiah 10 29 Bonus section

The emphasis on "all these" and "their nobles" signifies the covenant was neither exclusively clerical nor merely popular. It involved leadership and laity alike, representing a true national consensus, which gave the covenant significant weight and authority. The repeated emphasis on "God's Law," "Lord our Lord," and Moses "the servant of God" underscores the theocentric nature of the entire exercise; their commitment was not to human traditions but to divine revelation mediated through God's chosen instruments. This moment represents a conscious, collective decision to reverse the patterns of apostasy and negligence that had characterized earlier generations and ultimately led to their exile. It also serves as a poignant biblical example of what repentance looks like when it leads to a resolute recommitment to God's standards and will.

Nehemiah 10 29 Commentary

Nehemiah 10:29 is the binding heart of the covenant renewal initiated by the returned exiles. It marks a moment of profound collective consecration. Having confessed their history of rebellion and recognized God's unwavering faithfulness, the people moved from contrition to a decisive, actionable commitment. The act of "entering into a curse and an oath" emphasizes the gravity and intentionality of their promise, indicating a deep understanding of the solemnity of covenant with God and the serious consequences for dereliction. They pledged to embrace the entirety of God's revealed will—His "Law, commandments, statutes, and ordinances"—as the defining framework for their communal and individual lives. This was not a selective commitment but an all-encompassing one, covering every dimension of worship, ethics, and civil order, all given by Moses as "the servant of God," reaffirming the divine authority and enduring relevance of the Pentateuch. This vow was critical for the re-establishment of a theocratic community in Judah, demonstrating their recognition of God as "the Lord our Lord" – their sovereign master, to whom total allegiance was due. It underscored that true restoration extended beyond physical walls to spiritual obedience, serving as a vital precursor for future reforms and continued existence as God's covenant people.