New International Version
2 Chronicles 34:12
12The 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—
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.
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,
Context of 2 Chronicles 34:12
10Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin. 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— 13had charge of the laborers and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers. 14While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through 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 31:12Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah, a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank.
- 2 Kings 12:15They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.
- 2 Kings 22:7But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”
- Nehemiah 7:2I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
- Proverbs 28:20A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
- 1 Chronicles 6:31These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there.
- 1 Chronicles 15:16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:
- 1 Chronicles 23:5Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:1David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
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 International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries