Nehemiah 9:38

Nehemiah 9:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
• New International Version (NIV)“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”

Context of Nehemiah 9:38

36So here we are today as slaves in the land You gave our fathers to enjoy its fruit and goodness— here we are as slaves! 37Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress. In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”

Nehemiah 9:38 word by word

וּבְכָל־זֹ֕את אֲנַ֛חְנוּ כֹּרְתִ֥ים אֲמָנָ֖ה וְכֹתְבִ֑ים וְעַל֙ הֶֽחָת֔וּם שָׂרֵ֥ינוּ לְוִיֵּ֖נוּ כֹּהֲנֵֽינוּ׃Read the interlinear

• In view of allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• thisזֹאתzô'th · thisH2063
• weאֲנַ֫חְנוּ'ănachnû · weH587
• makeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a binding agreementאֲמָנָה'ămânâh · sureH548
• putting it in writingכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• andעַל‛al · uponH5921
• sealing it withחָתַםchâtham · to sealH2856
• our leadersשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• and priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548

Cross-references for Nehemiah 9:38

• Nehemiah 10:29hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.
• 2 Kings 23:3So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.
• 2 Chronicles 15:12Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.
• 2 Chronicles 23:16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.
• 2 Chronicles 29:10Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us.
• 2 Chronicles 34:31So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
• Ezra 10:3So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.
• Nehemiah 10:1Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,

Commentaries on Nehemiah 9:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it - Persuaded that we have brought all the miseries upon ourselves by our transgressions, feeling much and fearing more, we make a covenant with thee to devote ourselves to thy service; to do with us as thou pleasest. From this sealing we learn that at this time the government of the Jews was a mixed aristocracy; composed of the nobles for the civil department, and the priests and Levites for the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38Seal unto it - The exact force of the phrase used is doubtful; but its general sense must be that the classes named took part in the sealing. It was usual in the East to authenticate covenants by appending the seals of those who were parties to them (see Jeremiah 32:10).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-38Verses 4-38 The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38The people, embracing the prayer, renewed their dedication to God and his word. They signed their names to show their commitment (Nehemiah 9:38–10:27) and took an oath to follow the covenant (10:28–39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-386-38. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone, &c.--In this solemn and impressive prayer, in which they make public confession of their sins, and deprecate the judgments due to the transgressions of their fathers, they begin with a profound adoration of God, whose supreme majesty and omnipotence is acknowledged in the creation, preservation, and government of all. Then they proceed to enumerate His mercies and distinguished favors to them as a nation, from the…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 9:38

• Covenant
• Decision
• Seal
• Sin
• Thankfulness

In the dictionaries

• Covenant
• Divide
• Gracious
• Mighty
• Neck
• Seal
• Sure
• Intercession
• Israel, History of
• Leviticus

Commentaries on Nehemiah 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings