New International Version
Nehemiah 7:65
65The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
Nehemiah 7:65 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.
Context of Nehemiah 7:65
63And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). 64These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. 66The whole company numbered 42,360, 67besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.
Read all of Nehemiah 7Nehemiah 7:65 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַתִּרְשָׁ֙תָא֙ לָהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יֹאכְל֖וּ מִקֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים עַ֛ד עֲמֹ֥ד הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לְאוּרִ֥ים וְתוּמִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Tirshathaתִּרְשָׁתָאtirshâthâ' · governorH8660
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto them, that they should not eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- of the mostקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
- till there stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: appointH5975
- a priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- with Urimאוּרִים'ûrîym · UrimH224
- and Thummimתֻּמִּיםtûmmîym · ThummimH8550
Cross-references for Nehemiah 7:65
- Nehemiah 8:9Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
- Nehemiah 10:1Those who sealed it were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah. Zedekiah,
- Ezra 2:63The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
- Leviticus 2:3The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.
- Leviticus 6:17It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the food offerings presented to me. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy.
- Leviticus 7:19“ ‘Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up. As for other meat, anyone ceremonially clean may eat it.
- Leviticus 10:17“Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord.
- Leviticus 21:21No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God.
- Exodus 28:30Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.
- Numbers 27:21He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”
- Deuteronomy 33:8About Levi he said: “Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 7:65
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-73Verses 5-73 Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 65Urim and Thummim: See study notes on Exodus 28:30 and Leviticus 8:8.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 39-7339. The priests--It appears that only four of the courses of the priests returned from the captivity; and that the course of Abia (Lu 1:5) is not in the list. But it must be noticed that these four courses were afterwards divided into twenty-four, which retained the names of the original courses which David appointed.Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 7:65
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 7
- 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