New English Translation
2 Chronicles 34:12
12The men worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), as well as Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,
2 Chronicles 34:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
- New International Version (NIV)The workers labored faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. The Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise. Others of the Levites, all of whom were skillful with instruments of music,
Context of 2 Chronicles 34:12
10They handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn paid the temple workers to restore and repair it. 11They gave money to the craftsmen and builders to buy chiseled stone and wood for the braces and rafters of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into disrepair. The men worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), as well as Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians, 13supervised the laborers and all the foremen on their various jobs. Some of the Levites were scribes, officials, and guards. 14When they took out the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the Lord had given to Moses.
Read all of 2 Chronicles 342 Chronicles 34:12 word by word
וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ עֹשִׂ֨ים בֶּאֱמוּנָ֜ה בַּמְּלָאכָ֗ה וַעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם׀ מֻ֠פְקָדִים יַ֣חַת וְעֹבַדְיָ֤הוּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י וּזְכַרְיָ֧ה וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם מִן־בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים לְנַצֵּ֑חַ וְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם כָּל־מֵבִ֖ין בִּכְלֵי־שִֽׁיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
- faithfullyאֱמוּנָה'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh · faithfulnessH530
- and the overseersנָצַחnâtsach · to conductH5329
- Jahathיַ֫חַתyachath · JahathH3189
- and Obadiahעֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ‛ôbadyâh ‛ôbadyâhû · ObadiahH5662
- the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Merariמְרָרִיmerârîy · MerariH4847
- and Zechariahזְכַרְיָהוּzekaryâh zekaryâhû · ZechariahH2148
- and Meshullamמְשֻׁלָּםmeshûllâm · MeshullamH4918
- of the sons of the Kohathitesקְהָתִיqŏhâthîy · KohathiteH6956
- forwardפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
- all that could skillבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- of instrumentsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- of musickשִׁירshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 34:12
- 2 Chronicles 31:12they brought in the contributions, tithes, and consecrated items that had been offered. Konaniah, a Levite, was in charge of all this, assisted by his brother Shimei.
- 2 Kings 12:15They did not audit the treasurers who disbursed the funds to the foremen, for they were honest.
- 2 Kings 22:7Do not audit the foremen who disburse the silver, for they are honest.”
- Nehemiah 7:2I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hanani and Hananiah the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do.
- Proverbs 28:20A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.
- 1 Chronicles 6:31These are the men David put in charge of music in the Lord’s sanctuary, after the ark was placed there.
- 1 Chronicles 15:16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 23:54,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments I supplied for worship.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:1David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility:
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 34:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12All that could skill of instruments of music - Did the musicians play on their several instruments to encourage and enliven the workmen? Is not this a probable case from their mention here? If this were really the case, instrumental music was never better applied in any thing that refers to the worship of God. It is fabled of Orpheus, a most celebrated musician, that such was the enchanting harmony of his lyre, that he built the city of Thebes by it: the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13The fact that musicians supervised the construction shows the importance of Levites leading this work. Other ancient texts mention that music was often part of construction projects.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Chronicles 34:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 34
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries