KJV
Click to Change
Return to Top
Nehemiah concludes this chapter by saying, 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 (v. 38). Here, the people of Jerusalem conclude a solemn moment of confession and worship. Nehemiah, serving around 445 BC under the Persian king Artaxerxes, guided his fellow Israelites to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem and restore community life. In this verse, the Israelites formalize their renewed commitment to follow the Law of Moses, demonstrating their desire to correct the sins of their past and return to genuine covenant faithfulness in the very place where they had once strayed.
The phrase an agreement in writing speaks of a binding covenant. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such a written and sealed treaty was a serious pact, often resting on clear stipulations and expectations. The presence of local leaders, including the Levites who assisted with temple worship, and the priests who were entrusted with sacred duties, underscores the unity among civic and religious authorities. Their sealed document also served as a witness to future generations that they committed themselves openly, before God and the community, to preserve and follow the divine commands.
By mentioning that the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests are recorded, it shows that each sector of the population took collective responsibility for spiritual renewal. The re-establishment of the covenant was not merely a private decision, but one that impacted the entire re-gathered nation of Israel, post-exile, in Jerusalem-a city recognized for its central role in preserving Jewish identity. By sealing their names, these prominent figures confirmed their accountability, paving the way for sincere worship and obedience among the people.
Used with permission from TheBibleSays.com.
You can access the original article here.
|
Line-By-Line Order:
 Verse-ReferenceReference-VerseSeparate LineVerse OnlyReference Only |
Reference Delimiters:
None — Jhn 1:1 KJV Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]Curly — {Jhn 1:1 KJV}Parens — (Jhn 1:1 KJV) |
|
Paragraph Order:
Verse-ReferenceReference-VerseReference-Only |
Number Delimiters:*
No NumberNo Delimiter — 15Square — [15]Curly — {15}Parens — (15) |
|
Other Options:
 Abbreviate Books Use SBL Abbrev.En dash not Hyphen |
Quotes Around VersesRemove Square BracketsSort Canonically |
* 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order'
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding.
Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
©2025 Blue Letter Bible | Privacy Policy
Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs.
Loading
Loading
| Interlinear |
| Bibles |
| Cross-Refs |
| Commentaries |
| Dictionaries |
| Miscellaneous |
