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

36Behold, we are slaves today, And as for the land which You gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its bounty, Behold, we are slaves on it. 37And its abundant produce is for the kings Whom You have set over us because of our sins; They also rule over our bodies And over our cattle as they please, So we are in great distress. “Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites, and our priests.”

Nehemiah 9:38 word by word

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

• Now because of allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• We are makingכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• an agreementאֲמָנָה'ămânâh · sureH548
• in writingכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• sealedחָתַםchâtham · to sealH2856
• our leadersשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• our Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• our priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548

Cross-references for Nehemiah 9:38

• Nehemiah 10:29are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to comply with all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and statutes;
• 2 Kings 23:3And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, His provisions, and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.
• 2 Chronicles 15:12They entered into the covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul;
• 2 Chronicles 23:16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people.
• 2 Chronicles 29:10Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, so that His burning anger may turn away from us.
• 2 Chronicles 34:31Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that are written in this book.
• Ezra 10:3So now let’s make a covenant with our God to send away all the wives and their children, following the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the Law.
• Nehemiah 10:1Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and 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