Nehemiah 10:35 kjv
And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
Nehemiah 10:35 nkjv
And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD;
Nehemiah 10:35 niv
"We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
Nehemiah 10:35 esv
We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD;
Nehemiah 10:35 nlt
"We promise to bring the first part of every harvest to the LORD's Temple year after year ? whether it be a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees.
Nehemiah 10 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:19 | "You shall bring the choicest of the firstfruits of your ground to the house of the Lord your God." | Law for firstfruits dedication. |
| Exod 34:26 | "The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God." | Reinforces the best quality for offerings. |
| Lev 2:14 | "If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer..." | Specific instruction for grain firstfruits. |
| Num 18:12-13 | "All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the firstfruits..." | Priests' portion of firstfruits. |
| Deut 26:1-11 | Details the ceremony and confession when presenting firstfruits. | Ritual acknowledgment of God's blessing. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce..." | Principle: giving first acknowledges God. |
| Ezek 44:30 | "The first of all the firstfruits of every kind... shall belong to the priests." | Prophetic reminder of the priests' due. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me in your tithes and contributions... Bring the full tithe..." | Consequence of neglecting offerings to God. |
| Rom 11:16 | "If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump..." | Principle of firstfruits sanctifying the whole. |
| Rom 8:23 | "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit..." | Spiritual 'firstfruits' - Holy Spirit as a guarantee. |
| 1 Cor 15:20 | "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." | Christ as the inaugural resurrection. |
| Jas 1:18 | "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits..." | Believers as the beginning of God's new creation. |
| Jer 2:3 | "Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest..." | Israel's consecrated status to God. |
| Neh 10:37 | "And to bring the first of our dough... and our grain offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees..." | Other aspects of the renewed commitment. |
| Exod 22:29 | "You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses." | Emphasizes timeliness of the offering. |
| Num 15:19-21 | Instructions for offerings from the first of the dough. | Extends firstfruit principle beyond produce. |
| Lev 23:10 | "When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits..." | Command for wave offering of first sheaf. |
| Heb 7:1-10 | Discusses tithes to Melchizedek, highlighting the priestly support principle. | Illustrates long-standing support for priesthood. |
| Luke 10:7 | "The laborer deserves his wages." | New Testament principle supporting those who serve. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion..." | Attitude of giving in the New Covenant. |
Nehemiah 10 verses
Nehemiah 10 35 Meaning
Nehemiah 10:35 states the renewed covenant commitment of the Israelites, post-exile, to annually bring the first and best produce from their fields and all their trees to the Temple. This practice of offering "firstfruits" symbolized their acknowledgment of God's ownership of the land and all its bounty, expressing gratitude for His provision and demonstrating their dependence on Him for sustained blessing and fertility. It also ensured support for the priests and Levites who served in the house of the Lord.
Nehemiah 10 35 Context
Nehemiah chapter 10 records the solemn covenant, or "sure agreement" ('amanah meaning reliable or binding agreement), entered into by the returned exiles after the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the rediscovery of the Law under Ezra. Following a time of deep repentance and corporate worship in Nehemiah 9, the people, led by their princes, Levites, and priests, make a formal commitment to obey all of God's commandments. This includes specific practical provisions for the ongoing maintenance of Temple worship. Verse 35 is one such specific commitment, detailing the agreement to regularly bring firstfruits to the Temple. This annual commitment demonstrated their renewed dedication to God and the restoration of proper worship, correcting the neglect and disobedience that characterized their pre-exilic history. The emphasis is on collective responsibility to sustain the functions of the House of the Lord.
Nehemiah 10 35 Word analysis
- And [we will bring] (וְלָבִיא, ve-lāvi') - The infinitive construct form implies a purpose or obligation, often translated as "to bring" or "we undertake to bring." It signifies a collective resolution and an active commitment by the people. The preceding verses list who is agreeing to this.
- firstfruits (בִּכּוּרֵי, bikkūrê) - This Hebrew term (from the root b-k-r, "firstborn" or "first fruit") refers specifically to the earliest and best produce of the harvest. It holds immense theological significance, representing not merely a portion but the consecrated beginning of the entire yield. It speaks to God's prior claim and blessing over all that follows.
- of our ground (אַדְמָתֵנוּ, ʾadmāṯēnū) - ʾadmāh (ground, soil, land) connects to ʾadam (man), indicating a vital relationship between humanity and the cultivated earth. This phrase emphasizes that the offerings come directly from the toil and sustenance of the people, from the very soil God provides. It highlights God's ownership of the land (Lev 25:23).
- and the firstfruits (וּבִכּוּרֵי, u-bikkūrê) - Repetition emphasizes the breadth of the commitment to include both field crops and tree produce.
- of all fruit of all trees (כָּל־פְּרִי כָּל־עֵץ, kāl-perî kāl-ʿēṣ) - This phrase includes the yield from orchards and vineyards, covering all significant agricultural output. It signifies a comprehensive dedication, omitting no part of their produce from the initial consecration.
- year by year (שָׁנָה בְשָׁנָה, šānāh bə-šānāh) - Literally "year in year," meaning "annually" or "regularly, every year." This underscores the ongoing, consistent nature of their commitment, not a one-time act but a sustained discipline, acknowledging God's consistent provision. It indicates that the system for supporting the Temple was to be a permanent part of their national life.
- to the house of the Lord (לְבֵית יְהוָה, lə-ḇêṯ YHWH) - Refers to the Jerusalem Temple. This destination ensures the offerings served their purpose: supporting the Levitical priesthood and maintaining the place of worship, as the Levites had no territorial inheritance and were dependent on these offerings (Num 18:21). The polemical aspect is that these offerings were directed only to YHWH, rejecting any syncretistic worship practices common in surrounding cultures that would offer firstfruits to fertility deities like Baal.
Nehemiah 10 35 Bonus section
The practice of firstfruits giving laid the groundwork for future understanding of what it means to consecrate something to God, particularly with New Testament theological implications. For instance, Jesus as the "firstfruits of those who sleep" (1 Cor 15:20) implies His resurrection is the guarantee and blueprint for the resurrection of all believers. Similarly, believers being "a kind of firstfruits" (Jas 1:18) to God suggests their unique position and purpose in God's redemptive plan as the initial harvest of a larger spiritual creation. This echoes the concept in the Old Testament where Israel itself was considered the "firstfruits" to God among nations (Jer 2:3). The meticulous return to this practice by the Nehemiah generation demonstrated a profound turning point in their national walk with God, striving for practical holiness in light of renewed understanding of His law.
Nehemiah 10 35 Commentary
Nehemiah 10:35 embodies a deep theological principle rooted in Israel's covenant with God: the recognition of God as the ultimate provider and owner of all creation. The command to bring firstfruits was not merely a tax but an act of worship, trust, and obedience. By offering the first and best, before personal consumption, the Israelites demonstrated their faith that God would ensure the remaining harvest would be sufficient. This practice fostered a spirit of gratitude and prevented self-sufficiency. In the post-exilic period, this specific commitment, along with others in the chapter, marked a renewed understanding of national responsibility for divine worship, which had been tragically neglected before the exile. The phrase "year by year" points to the essential discipline of consistent, ongoing faithfulness, vital for both individual piety and corporate spiritual health. This commitment was critical for the functioning of the rebuilt Temple and the livelihood of the priests and Levites, emphasizing that worship is not only spiritual but also requires practical, material support.