Nehemiah 12:38 kjv
And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
Nehemiah 12:38 nkjv
The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall,
Nehemiah 12:38 niv
The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people?past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,
Nehemiah 12:38 esv
The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,
Nehemiah 12:38 nlt
The second choir giving thanks went northward around the other way to meet them. I followed them, together with the other half of the people, along the top of the wall past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,
Nehemiah 12 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 29:43 | There I will meet with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. | God's presence consecrating a place. |
| Num 10:1-10 | God commanded Moses to make two trumpets...for summoning the congregation. | Orchestrated community gatherings and signals. |
| Deut 20:5-9 | Instructions for dedicating houses...or any work. | Principles of dedicating new constructions. |
| 2 Sam 6:12-15 | David brought the ark of God...with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. | Joyful processions in worship. |
| 1 Kgs 8:1-11 | King Solomon brought the Ark...when the priests came out...the cloud filled the house of the Lord. | Dedication of the Temple, signifying God's presence. |
| 1 Chr 15:16, 28 | David commanded the chiefs...appoint the Levites, singers...sing songs of joy with musical instruments. | Organized musical worship in procession. |
| Ezra 3:10-13 | When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord...they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks. | Communal praise and thanksgiving during rebuilding. |
| Ezra 6:16 | The people of Israel, the priests, the Levites...celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. | Joyful dedication of a rebuilt structure. |
| Ps 122:1-4 | I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! | Joy in approaching Jerusalem and its gates for worship. |
| Ps 147:12-14 | Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. | Praise for strengthening Jerusalem's defenses. |
| Isa 26:1-2 | We have a strong city; He sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter. | Jerusalem's walls as symbols of divine salvation. |
| Jer 31:38-40 | The city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Gate of the Corner...shall not be uprooted or overthrown anymore. | Prophecy of Jerusalem's full rebuilding and future security. |
| Hag 1:8 | Go up to the mountains and bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified. | Call to rebuild, leading to God's glory. |
| Zech 8:3 | Thus says the Lord: 'I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city.' | God's restoration and presence in Jerusalem. |
| Matt 21:8-9 | Most of the crowd spread their cloaks...while others cut branches...and cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!" | Joyful, processional public acclaim of leadership. |
| Luke 19:37-38 | As He was approaching...the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice...“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" | Disciples' loud praise during a public procession. |
| Acts 15:16 | After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen... | The spiritual rebuilding of God's dwelling, applicable to restoration themes. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens...being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. | The church as a spiritual building, echoing communal construction and dedication. |
| Heb 12:22-24 | You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | The heavenly Jerusalem as the ultimate reality to which earthly rebuilding points. |
| Rev 21:10-14 | He carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...with a great, high wall. | The perfected, eternal Jerusalem with its protective wall, echoing earthly restoration. |
| Phil 1:6 | He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. | Divine completion of a good work, relating to God completing the wall through them. |
| Ps 100:4 | Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. | Call to approach God with thanksgiving, especially through gates. |
Nehemiah 12 verses
Nehemiah 12 38 Meaning
Nehemiah 12:38 describes the procession of the second choir of those who gave thanks, detailing their route along the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem. This specific choir, accompanied by Nehemiah himself and half of the assembled people, marched in the opposite direction to the first choir, moving from a point beyond the Tower of the Furnaces all the way to the Broad Wall. This event signifies a corporate act of worship, dedication, and celebration following the successful reconstruction of Jerusalem's defenses, acknowledging God's hand in their accomplishment and their commitment to His covenant.
Nehemiah 12 38 Context
Nehemiah chapter 12 details the grand dedication ceremony of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem, a monumental achievement after years of desolation and opposition. Following the completion of the wall (Neh 6:15) and the population of the city (Neh 11), this chapter shifts to the spiritual dimension of renewal, specifically focusing on the joyful consecration of the walls to the Lord. The dedication involved a gathering of priests, Levites, and the entire community. It was marked by elaborate musical processions, with two large choirs, described in verses 31-43, taking distinct routes along the wall. Nehemiah, as the leader, personally participated in one of these choirs. The specific details in verse 38 describe the precise path taken by the second choir and its composition, highlighting the intentional and organized nature of this significant spiritual event in post-exilic Jerusalem. Historically, the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall marked a crucial step in the restoration of the Jewish community's identity and security after their return from Babylonian exile, allowing them to define and protect their sacred space for covenant fidelity.
Nehemiah 12 38 Word analysis
- And the other company / הַתּוֹדָה הַשֵּׁנִית (hatodah hashenit): Literally "the second thanksgiving" or "the second praise/choir." This highlights that the procession was specifically one of gratitude and adoration. It denotes the parallel nature of the dedication event, with two distinct groups engaging in synchronized praise, emphasizing unity in worship.
- of them that gave thanks: Reinforces the primary purpose of these choirs as groups offering communal praise and gratitude to God for His providence and the successful completion of the wall.
- went over against them / הֹלְכָה מֵאֶחָרֵיהֶם (holekhah me'akhareyhem): Indicates movement in the opposite direction along the wall from the first choir, creating a symbolic encirclement of Jerusalem with praise and prayer. This symmetrical movement further signifies a comprehensive dedication covering the entire circumference.
- and I after them / וַאֲנִי אַחֲרֵיהֶם (va'ani 'achareyhem): Nehemiah’s personal involvement as the leader (the "I") is significant. It underscores his hands-on leadership not just in construction but also in corporate worship. It reveals a leader deeply invested in the spiritual life of his people and participating actively, not merely overseeing.
- and the half of the people / וַחֲצִי הָעָם (vaḥatzī hā'ām): Designates that a substantial portion of the community participated directly in this procession. This indicates a widespread, collective engagement in the dedication, making it a truly communal act of worship, reflecting the shared effort in rebuilding the wall.
- upon the wall / עַל־הַחוֹמָה (ʿal-haḥomah): Specifies the path of the procession. Walking on the wall signifies a triumphant reclaiming and consecration of the physical defense that had been so long in ruins. It symbolized God's blessing on the completed work and their newfound security.
- from beyond the tower of the furnaces / מִמִּגְדַּל הַתַּנּוּרִים (mimmigdal hattannûrîm): The "Tower of the Ovens/Furnaces" (possibly where bakeries were located or associated with fire for baking) was a known landmark in Jerusalem. It marks the starting point for this segment of the procession, indicating a specific, identifiable part of the city's perimeter. This specific geographic detail adds verifiability and historical realism to the account.
- even unto the broad wall / הַחוֹמָה הָרְחָבָה (haḥômâ hārĕḥāḇâ): "The Broad Wall" was another prominent feature of Jerusalem's rebuilt defenses, named for its unusual width, perhaps designed to incorporate existing structures. This designates the endpoint of the segment described for this choir, outlining a precise route of their worshipful march. The existence of the Broad Wall is also supported by archaeological findings (such as in the Jewish Quarter), lending further historical credence to the biblical text and demonstrating that the rebuilding went beyond simple repairs.
Nehemiah 12 38 Bonus section
The organized nature of the dedication procession, with two choirs moving in opposite directions, highlights the importance of order and preparation in biblical worship. This mirror-image movement not only covered the entirety of the wall geographically but also reinforced the concept of a united community approaching God from all sides. The specific named landmarks (Tower of the Furnaces, Broad Wall) serve as crucial archaeological markers, helping to reconstruct the topography of ancient Jerusalem. The Broad Wall, in particular, represents a major feat of engineering, confirming the extent of the builders' efforts under Nehemiah's leadership and God's enablement. Nehemiah's presence within the choir underscores the principle of servant leadership, where leaders actively engage in the spiritual practices they encourage their people to adopt. This physical act of walking upon the wall, for people who had known exile and devastation, would have been an incredibly potent visual and experiential testament to God's restorative power and faithfulness to His promises. The entire dedication can be seen as an elaborate enacted prayer, a declaration of God's sovereignty over the city.
Nehemiah 12 38 Commentary
Nehemiah 12:38 encapsulates a moment of profound spiritual and communal significance: the dedication of the rebuilt Jerusalem wall. This verse, describing the march of the second choir with Nehemiah and half the people, illustrates a triumphal and deliberate act of consecration. Walking on the wall, previously a symbol of brokenness, now signified triumph, divine protection, and communal unity. The detailed mention of specific landmarks like the "Tower of the Furnaces" and "Broad Wall" grounds this sacred act in tangible reality, affirming the historical authenticity of the event. It reflects a theology where physical rebuilding is inseparable from spiritual renewal and where leadership actively participates in corporate worship, teaching by example. The two choirs meeting at a central point (Neh 12:40) symbolically encompassed the entire city in praise, presenting the rebuilt wall as a offering to God, a testimony to His faithfulness and their restored identity as a covenanted people. This communal act was not merely celebration but a rededication of their lives and city to God, ensuring their future well-being.