Focused Passage

Nehemiah 12:1-26

The Priests and Levites Are Remembered, the Wall Is Dedicated, and Worship Support Is Restored

The chapter remembers priestly and Levitical continuity, gathers and purifies worship servants, dedicates the wall with two great thanksgiving choirs, rejoices with sacrifices, and appoints support systems for singers, gatekeepers, priests, and Levites.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,

5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who, with his associates, led the songs of thanksgiving.

9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood across from them in the services.

10 Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada,

11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families: of the family of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;

15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;

16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;

18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jonathan;

19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;

21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, during the reign of Darius the Persian, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded.

23 As for the descendants of Levi, the family heads up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles.

24 The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now these וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ H428 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural are the priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים H3548 Article | Noun - masculine plural and Levites וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural who אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative went up עָל֛וּ H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural with עִם־ H5973 Preposition Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל H2216 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Shealtiel שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֖ל H7597 Noun - proper - masculine singular and with Jeshua וְיֵשׁ֑וּעַ H3442 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Seraiah שְׂרָיָ֥ה H8304 Noun - proper - masculine singular Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֖ה H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular Ezra עֶזְרָֽא׃ H5830 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

Amariah אֲמַרְיָ֥ה H568 Noun - proper - masculine singular Malluch מַלּ֖וּךְ H4409 Noun - proper - masculine singular Hattush חַטּֽוּשׁ׃ H2407 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Malluch is a variant of Malluchi; see verse 14.
Verse 3

Original words

Shecaniah שְׁכַנְיָ֥ה H7935 Noun - proper - masculine singular Rehum רְחֻ֖ם H7348 Noun - proper - masculine singular Meremoth מְרֵמֹֽת׃ H4822 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Rehum is a variant of Harim; see verse 15, Nehemiah 7:42, and Ezra 2:39.
Verse 4

Original words

Iddo עִדּ֥וֹא H5714 Noun - proper - masculine singular Ginnethon גִנְּת֖וֹי H1599 Noun - proper - masculine singular Abijah אֲבִיָּֽה׃ H29 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most MT manuscripts Ginnethoi
Verse 5

Original words

Mijamin מִיָּמִ֥ין H4326 Noun - proper - masculine singular Maadiah מַֽעַדְיָ֖ה H4573 Noun - proper - masculine singular Bilgah בִּלְגָּֽה׃ H1083 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Mijamin is a variant of Miniamin; see verse 17.
  • Maadiah is a variant of Moadiah; see verse 17.
  • Bilgah is a variant of Bilgai; also in verse 18; see Nehemiah 10:8.
Verse 6

Original words

Shemaiah שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה H8098 Noun - proper - masculine singular Joiarib וְיוֹיָרִ֖יב H3114 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Jedaiah יְדַֽעְיָֽה׃ H3048 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

Sallu סַלּ֣וּ H5543 Noun - proper - masculine singular Amok עָמ֔וֹק H5987 Noun - proper - masculine singular Hilkiah חִלְקִיָּ֖ה H2518 Noun - proper - masculine singular [and] Jedaiah יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה H3048 Noun - proper - masculine singular These אֵ֣לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural were the leaders רָאשֵׁ֧י H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct of the priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים H3548 Article | Noun - masculine plural and their associates וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural in the days בִּימֵ֥י H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Jeshua יֵשֽׁוּעַ׃פ H3442 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

The Levites [were] וְהַלְוִיִּ֗ם H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Jeshua יֵשׁ֧וּעַ H3442 Noun - proper - masculine singular Binnui בִּנּ֛וּי H1131 Noun - proper - masculine singular Kadmiel קַדְמִיאֵ֥ל H6934 Noun - proper - masculine singular Sherebiah שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה H8274 Noun - proper - masculine singular Judah יְהוּדָ֣ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Mattaniah מַתַּנְיָ֑ה H4983 Noun - proper - masculine singular who ה֥וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular with his associates וְאֶחָֽיו׃ H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular led עַֽל־ H5921 Preposition the songs of thanksgiving הֻיְּד֖וֹת H1960 Noun - feminine plural
Verse 9

Original words

Bakbukiah וּבַקְבֻּֽקְיָ֨ה H1229 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Unni וְעֻנּוֹ H6042 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular their associates אֲחֵיהֶ֛ם H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural [stood] across from them לְנֶגְדָּ֖ם H5048 Preposition-l | third person masculine plural in the services לְמִשְׁמָרֽוֹת׃ H4931 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural
Verse 10

Original words

Jeshua וְיֵשׁ֖וּעַ H3442 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular was the father of הוֹלִ֣יד H3205 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Joiakim יֽוֹיָקִ֑ים H3113 Noun - proper - masculine singular Joiakim וְיֽוֹיָקִים֙ H3113 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular was the father of הוֹלִ֣יד H3205 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Eliashib אֶלְיָשִׁ֔יב H475 Noun - proper - masculine singular Eliashib וְאֶלְיָשִׁ֖יב H475 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker was the father of Joiada יוֹיָדָֽע׃ H3111 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Joiada וְיוֹיָדָע֙ H3111 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular was the father of הוֹלִ֣יד H3205 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Jonathan יוֹנָתָ֔ן H3129 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jonathan וְיוֹנָתָ֖ן H3129 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular was the father of הוֹלִ֥יד H3205 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Jaddua יַדּֽוּעַ׃ H3037 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Jonathan is a variant of Johanan; see verse 22.
Verse 12

Original words

In the days וּבִימֵי֙ H3117 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Joiakim יֽוֹיָקִ֔ים H3113 Noun - proper - masculine singular these were הָי֥וּ H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the heads רָאשֵׁ֣י H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct of the priestly כֹהֲנִ֖ים H3548 Noun - masculine plural families הָאָב֑וֹת H1 Article | Noun - masculine plural of [the family of] Seraiah לִשְׂרָיָ֣ה H8304 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Meraiah מְרָיָ֔ה H4811 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Jeremiah לְיִרְמְיָ֖ה H3414 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hananiah חֲנַנְיָֽה׃ H2608 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

of Ezra לְעֶזְרָ֣א H5830 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Meshullam מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם H4918 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Amariah לַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה H568 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Jehohanan יְהוֹחָנָֽן׃ H3076 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

of Malluchi לִמְלוּכִי H4409 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Jonathan יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן H3129 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Shebaniah לִשְׁבַנְיָ֖ה H7645 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Joseph יוֹסֵֽף׃ H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Malluchi is a variant of Malluch; see verse 2.
  • Shebaniah is a variant of Shecaniah; see verse 3; see also Syriac and some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts.
Verse 15

Original words

of Harim לְחָרִ֣ם H2766 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Adna עַדְנָ֔א H5733 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Meraioth לִמְרָי֖וֹת H4812 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Helkai חֶלְקָֽי׃ H2517 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Meraioth is a variant of Meremoth; see verse 3 and also some LXX manuscripts.
Verse 16

Original words

of Iddo לַעֲדָיָא H5718 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Zechariah זְכַרְיָ֖ה H2148 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Ginnethon לְגִנְּת֥וֹן H1599 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Meshullam מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃ H4918 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

of Abijah לַאֲבִיָּ֖ה H29 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Zichri זִכְרִ֑י H2147 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Miniamin לְמִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין H4509 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and of Moadiah לְמוֹעַדְיָ֖ה H4153 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Piltai פִּלְטָֽי׃ H6408 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Moadiah is a variant of Maadiah; see verse 5.
Verse 18

Original words

of Bilgah לְבִלְגָּ֣ה H1083 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Shammua שַׁמּ֔וּעַ H8051 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Shemaiah לִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֖ה H8098 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Jonathan יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ H3083 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

of Joiarib וּלְיוֹיָרִ֣יב H3114 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Mattenai מַתְּנַ֔י H4982 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Jedaiah לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה H3048 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Uzzi עֻזִּֽי׃ H5813 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

of Sallai לְסַלַּ֥י H5543 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Kallai קַלָּ֖י H7040 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Amok לְעָמ֥וֹק H5987 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Eber עֵֽבֶר׃ H5677 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Sallai is a variant of Sallu; see verse 7.
Verse 21

Original words

of Hilkiah לְחִלְקִיָּ֣ה H2518 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hashabiah חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה H2811 Noun - proper - masculine singular [and] of Jedaiah לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה H3048 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Nethanel נְתַנְאֵֽל׃ H5417 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

In the days בִּימֵ֨י H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Eliashib אֶלְיָשִׁ֜יב H475 Noun - proper - masculine singular Joiada יוֹיָדָ֤ע H3111 Noun - proper - masculine singular Johanan וְיוֹחָנָן֙ H3110 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jaddua וְיַדּ֔וּעַ H3037 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular during עַל־ H5921 Preposition the reign of מַלְכ֖וּת H4438 Noun - feminine singular construct Darius דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ H1867 Noun - proper - masculine singular the Persian הַפָּֽרְסִֽי׃פ H6542 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular the heads רָאשֵׁ֣י H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct of the families אָב֑וֹת H1 Noun - masculine plural of the Levites הַלְוִיִּם֩ H3881 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural and priests וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים H3548 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural were recorded כְּתוּבִ֖ים H3789 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Johanan is a variant of Jonathan; see verse 11.
Verse 23

Original words

As for the descendants בְּנֵ֤י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Levi לֵוִי֙ H3878 Noun - proper - masculine singular the family הָֽאָב֔וֹת H1 Article | Noun - masculine plural heads רָאשֵׁ֣י H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct up to וְעַד־ H5704 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the days יְמֵ֖י H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct of Johanan יֽוֹחָנָ֥ן H3110 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Eliashib אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב׃ H475 Noun - proper - masculine singular were recorded כְּתוּבִ֕ים H3789 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural in עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Book סֵ֖פֶר H5612 Noun - masculine singular construct of the Chronicles דִּבְרֵ֣י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . הַיָּמִ֑ים H3117 Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or the Book of the Annals or the Book of the Historical Events
Verse 24

Original words

The leaders וְרָאשֵׁ֣י H7218 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of the Levites הַ֠לְוִיִּם H3881 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural [were] Hashabiah חֲשַׁבְיָ֨ה H2811 Noun - proper - masculine singular Sherebiah שֵֽׁרֵבְיָ֜ה H8274 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jeshua וְיֵשׁ֤וּעַ H3442 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Kadmiel קַדְמִיאֵל֙ H6934 Noun - proper - masculine singular along with their associates וַאֲחֵיהֶ֣ם H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural [who stood] across from them לְנֶגְדָּ֔ם H5048 Preposition-l | third person masculine plural to give praise לְהַלֵּ֣ל H1984 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct and thanksgiving לְהוֹד֔וֹת H3034 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct as one section מִשְׁמָ֖ר H4929 Noun - masculine singular alternated with לְעֻמַּ֥ת H5980 Preposition-l the other מִשְׁמָֽר׃ H4929 Noun - masculine singular as prescribed בְּמִצְוַ֖ת H4687 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct by David דָּוִ֣יד H1732 Noun - proper - masculine singular the man אִישׁ־ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct of God הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, and Kadmiel
Verse 25

Original words

Mattaniah מַתַּנְיָ֧ה H4983 Noun - proper - masculine singular Bakbukiah וּבַקְבֻּֽקְיָ֛ה H1229 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Obadiah עֹבַדְיָ֥ה H5662 Noun - proper - masculine singular Meshullam מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם H4918 Noun - proper - masculine singular Talmon טַלְמ֣וֹן H2929 Noun - proper - masculine singular [and] Akkub עַקּ֑וּב H6126 Noun - proper - masculine singular [were] gatekeepers שֽׁוֹעֲרִים֙ H7778 Noun - masculine plural who guarded שֹׁמְרִ֤ים H8104 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural . . . מִשְׁמָ֔ר H4929 Noun - masculine singular the storerooms בַּאֲסֻפֵּ֖י H624 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct at the gates הַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃ H8179 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 26

Original words

They [served] אֵ֕לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural in the days בִּימֵ֛י H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Joiakim יוֹיָקִ֥ים H3113 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Jeshua יֵשׁ֖וּעַ H3442 Noun - proper - masculine singular the son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Jozadak יוֹצָדָ֑ק H3136 Noun - proper - masculine singular and in the days וּבִימֵי֙ H3117 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Nehemiah נְחֶמְיָ֣ה H5166 Noun - proper - masculine singular the governor הַפֶּחָ֔ה H6346 Article | Noun - masculine singular and Ezra וְעֶזְרָ֥א H5830 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular the priest הַכֹּהֵ֖ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular and scribe הַסּוֹפֵֽר׃פ H5608 Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Jozadak is a variant of Jehozadak; see 1 Chronicles 6:14.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.