Nehemiah 13 29

Nehemiah 13:29 kjv

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

Nehemiah 13:29 nkjv

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Nehemiah 13:29 niv

Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

Nehemiah 13:29 esv

Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Nehemiah 13:29 nlt

Remember them, O my God, for they have defiled the priesthood and the solemn vows of the priests and Levites.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 29 Meaning

Nehemiah 13:29 is a fervent prayer offered by Nehemiah to God, asking Him to "remember" in judgment those who had polluted or profaned the sacred office of the priesthood, along with the divine covenant associated with it and the Levites. This verse encapsulates Nehemiah’s deep grief and righteous anger over the spiritual compromises and breaches of divine law that had infiltrated the restored community of Israel, specifically targeting the defilement of religious leadership and institutions established by God Himself. It underscores the sanctity of spiritual roles and the grave consequences of unfaithfulness to God’s ordinances and covenants.

Nehemiah 13 29 Context

Nehemiah 13 is a powerful record of Nehemiah's second set of reforms, undertaken after his return to Babylon and then subsequent return to Jerusalem. During his absence, serious breaches of the covenant and God's law had occurred. The core issues Nehemiah confronted were: (1) Tobiah, an Ammonite enemy, being given a chamber within the temple courts by the high priest Eliashib (13:4-9); (2) the neglect of temple support, leading Levites to abandon their service to work their fields (13:10-14); (3) desecration of the Sabbath through commercial activities (13:15-22); and most significantly for verse 29, (4) rampant intermarriage with foreign women (13:23-28), which extended to the priestly and Levitical families, even a son of the high priest.

Verse 29 is Nehemiah's passionate cry to God for justice against those who specifically polluted the sacred roles of the priesthood and the Levites through these covenant violations, particularly the intermarriage and potentially the compromises that allowed Tobiah access to holy space and the neglect of Levitical support. Nehemiah views these acts not merely as personal transgressions but as a profound defilement of divine institutions and the foundational covenants upon which Israel's spiritual integrity depended.

Nehemiah 13 29 Word analysis

• Remember (זָכַר - zakhar): This word signifies more than merely bringing something to mind; it implies actively acknowledging, considering, and then acting upon that remembrance, often with consequences. In this context, it is a prayer for God to remember in a judicial sense, to hold accountable and punish those who have sinned. Nehemiah uses this verb five times in his book as a personal appeal to God concerning his own actions and his enemies, four of which ask God to "remember" him for good (Neh 5:19; 13:14, 22, 31) and one to "remember" his enemies for ill (Neh 6:14), and here the wicked priests/Levites.
• them (לָהֶם - lahem): Refers collectively to those specifically mentioned in the surrounding context, especially those associated with the priesthood and Levites who engaged in covenant breaches like intermarriage and neglect, most notably Eliashib the high priest and his family members who took foreign wives (Neh 13:28) and possibly those involved in failing to support the Levites (Neh 13:10-14).
• O my God (אֱלֹהַי - Elohai): A personal, intimate address, reflecting Nehemiah's deep devotion and trust in God as his own. This personal plea reinforces the seriousness and earnestness of his prayer, placing the gravity of the defilement before his personal sovereign Lord.
• because (כִּי - ki): Indicates the reason or justification for Nehemiah's request for God's remembrance and judgment.
• they have defiled (טִמְּאוּ - ṭim'm'ʾū, Piel stem of טָמֵא - ṭāmēʾ): The verb ṭāmēʾ means to make unclean, pollute, or profane. The Piel stem emphasizes the intentional or intensive act of causing something to be defiled or polluted. This word has strong ritual and moral connotations in the Old Testament, denoting something that is made ceremonially or morally impure and therefore unfit for sacred use or for divine presence. It suggests a direct transgression against God's holiness.
• the priesthood (הַכְּהֻנָּה - hakehunnah): Refers not just to individual priests but to the sacred institution and office of the priesthood itself. This office was ordained by God as holy, responsible for mediating between God and Israel, and maintaining ceremonial purity and instruction. Defiling it was a grave offense against the divine order.
• and the covenant (וּבְרִית - ūv'rīt): The term berit refers to a solemn, binding agreement, a covenant. Here, it signifies the divine promises, terms, and obligations God established with and for the priesthood. This includes the covenant with Levi (Mal 2:4-5) and the specific covenant of peace and lasting priesthood with Phinehas (Num 25:12-13), underscoring a commitment to zeal for God’s holiness and against defilement.
• of the priesthood (הַכְּהֻנָּה - hakehunnah): This further specifies which covenant has been breached – the one pertaining directly to the function, sanctity, and hereditary succession of the priestly office. This covenant demanded holiness and fidelity to God's commands from those who served in His sanctuary.
• and the Levites (וְהַלְוִיִּם - vehaleviyim): Refers to the tribe of Levi, from whom the priests (descendants of Aaron) were drawn, but more broadly, the Levites who served in the temple (porters, singers, teachers, treasurers, etc.). They too were consecrated to temple service. The defilement affected them both directly (some marrying foreign wives, 13:23) and indirectly (their neglect due to non-payment of tithes and offerings, 13:10).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Remember them, O my God,": This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of Nehemiah's prayer and his strong belief that God intervenes justly. It is an appeal to divine omniscience and omnipotence for retribution against those who willfully transgressed God's laws, highlighting a key aspect of Nehemiah's fervent prayer life (similar to his self-referential pleas to God to remember him for good).
• "because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood": This identifies the specific and severe offense. "Defiled" (ṭāmēʾ) signifies ritual and moral impurity, highlighting a grievous corruption of holy institutions. The inclusion of "the covenant of the priesthood" shows that it was not merely a ceremonial lapse but a betrayal of a sacred, divine agreement that outlined the responsibilities, purity, and privileges of the priestly office (e.g., God’s covenant with Levi in Mal 2, or with Phinehas in Num 25). It reveals a complete disregard for the sanctity God demanded of His designated ministers.
• "and the Levites": This extension shows the breadth of the defilement, encompassing not only the highest office but also the entire lineage dedicated to temple service. This reflects their spiritual decay from top to bottom, from the high priest's family to the neglect of all Levites, leading them away from their sacred duties.

Nehemiah 13 29 Bonus section

The recurring theme of Nehemiah's personal appeals, "Remember me, O my God," throughout chapters 5, 13 (Neh 5:19; 13:14, 22, 31) stands in stark contrast to this particular plea for God to "remember them" (his opponents/corrupt leaders). This highlights Nehemiah's discernment, appealing to God’s justice both for his own vindication and for the judgment of those who opposed God’s will and people. It demonstrates that a zealous leader does not seek personal glory but aims for God’s righteousness to prevail, even when it means calling down divine judgment upon the unrepentant. The defilement was seen not merely as an act of personal impurity but as a breaking of God’s established order for His chosen people, jeopardizing their relationship with Him. This deep theological understanding drove Nehemiah’s relentless reforms and passionate prayers.

Nehemiah 13 29 Commentary

Nehemiah 13:29 articulates a desperate and righteous prayer from Nehemiah, revealing his unwavering commitment to God’s holiness and covenant purity. He calls upon God to "remember" those who had egregiously "defiled" the spiritual leadership—specifically the priesthood and the Levites. This was no casual sin; "defiled" means to render ceremonially or morally impure, unfit for sacred use, polluting God’s very institution. This defilement arose from critical covenant breaches, most notably the high priest's compromise in giving sanctuary space to God's enemy Tobiah (Neh 13:4-9), the failure to support the Levites (Neh 13:10), and especially the widespread practice of intermarriage, even among the priestly lineage (Neh 13:23-28).

Nehemiah understood that the integrity of the priesthood was vital to the spiritual health of Israel, as they were the custodians of God's law and the mediators of His worship. The corruption of this office and the associated divine covenant signified a systemic breakdown in faithfulness. Nehemiah's prayer is thus not a petty vendetta, but a profound plea for divine justice against those who knowingly desecrated sacred things and undermined the spiritual foundation of the community God had re-established. It underscores the severity with which God views the betrayal of trust in sacred offices and the profaning of His holy institutions. It also reminds us that spiritual leaders are held to a higher standard (James 3:1) and that compromise with ungodliness can have far-reaching, detrimental effects on God's people.