Nehemiah 10 7

Nehemiah 10:7 kjv

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Nehemiah 10:7 nkjv

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Nehemiah 10:7 niv

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Nehemiah 10:7 esv

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Nehemiah 10:7 nlt

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Nehemiah 10 7 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Neh 9:38"Because of all this we make a firm covenant and write it... affixed our seal..."Covenant formalized and sealed.
Neh 10:1-8"On the seals were... Seraiah, Azariah... These were the priests."Comprehensive list of priestly signatories.
Neh 12:1-7"These are the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel..."Priestly families identified by name.
Ezr 2:36-39"The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of Immer, of Pashhur, of Harim..."Listing priestly families returning from exile.
Num 3:2-4"These are the names of the sons of Aaron... the anointed priests..."Priestly lineage established by God.
Exod 28:1"Bring to you Aaron your brother... that he may minister to me in the priest's office."Priests chosen and consecrated for service.
Lev 8:6"Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water."Consecration ritual for priests.
Mal 2:7"For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction..."Priestly duty to teach God's law.
Deut 29:10-15"You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God, your chiefs... to enter into the covenant..."Corporate entry into covenant.
Jer 31:31-34"Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant..."Prophecy of a new and better covenant.
Heb 8:6"But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent as the covenant..."Jesus as the mediator of a new covenant.
Exod 19:8"All that the Lord has spoken we will do."Israel's initial acceptance of the covenant.
Jos 24:16-18"Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods..."Joshua leading renewed commitment.
2 Kgs 23:1-3"And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord..."King Josiah's covenant renewal.
2 Chr 34:29-32"Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem... to make a covenant..."Covenant renewal under King Josiah.
1 Chr 9:10-13"And of the priests: Jedaiah... Very able men for the work of the service of the house of God."Names of priests active in Temple service.
Phil 4:3"whose names are in the book of life."Names recorded in God's heavenly registry.
Rev 3:5"The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out..."Promise to those who remain faithful.
1 Tim 2:5"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..."Emphasizes Christ's priestly mediation.
1 Pet 2:9"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..."Believers as a spiritual priesthood.

Nehemiah 10 verses

Nehemiah 10 7 Meaning

Nehemiah 10:7 continues the list of priests who affixed their seals to the solemn covenant, reaffirming the commitment of the returned exiles to God's Law. This verse specifically names Mishael, Bilgai, and Shemaiah, highlighting their individual participation in this significant communal pledge. Their inclusion underscores the personal accountability of the religious leadership in the renewed commitment to faithfulness before God.

Nehemiah 10 7 Context

Nehemiah 10 details the formal sealing of a covenant made by the returned Jewish community in Jerusalem. Following a period of intense spiritual revival spurred by the reading of the Law (Neh 8) and a communal confession of sin (Neh 9), the people, led by Nehemiah, Ezra, and other leaders, pledged themselves to walk in God’s commandments. The first seven verses of the chapter list the priests who affixed their seals, validating the covenant. Verse 7 specifically names three of these priestly individuals, Mishael, Bilgai, and Shemaiah, continuing the precise and detailed record of those committing to this renewed relationship with God. This act marked a pivotal moment in post-exilic Israel's attempt to restore proper worship and obedience to divine instruction, setting a communal example for the wider populace who then assented to the covenant's terms.

Nehemiah 10 7 Word analysis

  • Mishael (מִישָׁאֵל – Mishael): Means "Who is what God is?" or "Who is like God?". This name suggests a query about or declaration of God's uniqueness and power. While famously associated with one of Daniel's companions, this Mishael is a distinct individual, a priest. His name carries an underlying theological resonance within the context of rededication to Yahweh, questioning pagan deities and reaffirming the incomparable nature of the God of Israel. His signing serves as a testament to the inimitability of God.

  • Bilgai (בִּלְגַּי – Bilgai): The meaning is uncertain, possibly related to "Bilgah," a priestly family mentioned in Nehemiah 12:5, 18. If so, Bilgai likely represents a prominent priestly family line taking part in this significant religious and national renewal. Names in biblical genealogies often denote lineage, providing specific accountability and historical continuity within the priestly roster.

  • Shemaiah (שְׁמַעְיָה – Shemayah): Means "Heard of Yah" or "Yah has heard." This common Hebrew name implies that God has heard the prayers or needs of His people. In this context, it could symbolically represent God's responsiveness to the post-exilic community's repentance and their longing for restoration and a right relationship with Him. A priest named "Yah Has Heard" sealing the covenant might emphasize the community's belief that their new vows were heard and accepted by God.

  • these were the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים הָאֵלֶּה – hakkohanim ha'elleh): This concluding phrase explicitly identifies the previously named individuals (along with those in Neh 10:2-6) as priests. It distinguishes them from the Levites and chiefs who follow in the list (Neh 10:9-27). This identification highlights their unique and authoritative role in the Israelite religious life. As leaders in worship and teachers of the Law, their formal commitment to the covenant was critical for establishing the spiritual legitimacy and enduring validity of the pact before God and the community. Their public seal of approval underscored the spiritual gravity of the oath.

Nehemiah 10 7 Bonus section

  • The act of "sealing" (Neh 9:38) on a legal document was equivalent to a signature, giving the covenant the highest possible legal and spiritual authority within the Jewish community.
  • The meticulous detailing of names, families, and professions throughout Nehemiah 10 provides robust historical authenticity to the narrative, much like an official public record or witness list for a national treaty.
  • This specific listing within the chapter reflects the organizational structure and accountability within the post-exilic community, highlighting the hierarchy and leadership involved in spiritual governance.

Nehemiah 10 7 Commentary

Nehemiah 10:7, though seemingly a simple list of names, is significant in its historical and spiritual context. It enumerates three more of the priests who physically affixed their seals to the renewed covenant between the post-exilic community and God. This act of "sealing" carried the weight of a solemn legal and spiritual obligation, symbolizing a binding oath sworn before God and witnessed by the community. The specific mention of each priest by name underscores the personal responsibility and individual commitment of the religious leaders. Their inclusion among the first signatories validated the covenant from a religious standpoint and set a powerful example for the Levites and the rest of the people. This verse reflects the crucial role of the priesthood in leading Israel back to covenant fidelity, embodying a desire for pure worship and obedience to God’s written Law after generations of deviation. Their individual and corporate commitment was essential for the spiritual well-being and identity of the reconstituted nation.