Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. New Living Translation Remember them, O my God, for they have defiled the priesthood and the solemn vows of the priests and Levites. English Standard Version Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Berean Standard Bible Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. King James Bible Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. New King James Version Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. New American Standard Bible Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. NASB 1995 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. NASB 1977 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Legacy Standard Bible Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Amplified Bible O my God, remember them, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Christian Standard Bible Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Holman Christian Standard Bible Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. American Standard Version Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Contemporary English Version I pray that God will punish them for breaking their priestly vows and disgracing the Levi tribe. English Revised Version Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. GOD'S WORD® Translation [Nehemiah prayed,] "Remember them, my God, because they have contaminated the priestly office and the promise you made to the priests and Levites." Good News Translation Remember, God, how those people defiled both the office of priest and the covenant you made with the priests and the Levites. International Standard Version Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the descendants of Levi. Majority Standard Bible Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. NET Bible Please remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priesthood, and the Levites. New Heart English Bible Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priests, and of the Levites. Webster's Bible Translation Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. World English Bible Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBe mindful of them, O my God, for the redeemed of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Young's Literal Translation Be mindful of them, O my God, for the redeemed of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Smith's Literal Translation Remember to them, O my God, for the pollutions of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleRemember them, O Lord my God, that defile the priesthood, and the law of priests and Levites. Catholic Public Domain Version O Lord, my God, remember against those who defile the priesthood and the law of the priests and the Levites! New American Bible Remember against them, my God, how they defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites! New Revised Standard Version Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priests and the Levites. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleRemember me, O my God, concerning the rest of the priesthood and concerning the rest of the priests and the Levites; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Remember them, my God, concerning the rest of the priesthood, and concerning the rest of the Priests and of the Levites. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Brenton Septuagint Translation Remember them, O God, for their false connection with the priesthood, and the breaking the covenant of the priesthood, and for defiling the Levites. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Intermarriage Forbidden…28Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. 30Thus I purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.… Cross References Malachi 2:7-9 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts. / “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” Ezra 9:1-2 After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!” Leviticus 21:6-8 They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the food offerings, the food of their God, they must be holy. / A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. / You are to regard him as holy, since he presents the food of your God. He shall be holy to you, because I the LORD am holy—I who set you apart. 1 Kings 11:1-11 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ... Deuteronomy 7:1-4 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. / Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, ... 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ... 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. ... 1 Timothy 3:2-5 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, / not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. / An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. ... Titus 1:6-9 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. / As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. / Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. ... 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Jeremiah 23:11-14 “For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD. / “Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD. / “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. ... Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Hosea 4:6-9 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. / The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. / They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. ... Matthew 23:13-15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Mark 7:6-9 Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” ... Treasury of Scripture Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Remember. Nehemiah 6:14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. Psalm 59:5-13 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah… 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: because they have defiled. Leviticus 21:1-7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people: … the covenant. Numbers 16:9,10 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? … Numbers 25:12,13 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: … 1 Samuel 2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Jump to Previous Agreement Covenant Defiled Levites Mind Mindful Office Priesthood Priestly Priests Redeemed Remember ShameJump to Next Agreement Covenant Defiled Levites Mind Mindful Office Priesthood Priestly Priests Redeemed Remember ShameNehemiah 13 1. Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.4. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed. 10. He reforms the offices in the house of God; 15. the violation of the Sabbath; 23. and the marriages with the strange wives. Remember them, O my God This phrase is a plea for divine justice and intervention. Nehemiah calls upon God to remember the actions of those who have acted against His commands. This reflects a common biblical theme where individuals seek God's remembrance as a form of divine retribution or blessing (e.g., Psalm 25:7). The invocation of God’s memory is significant, as it implies trust in God’s omniscience and justice. It also echoes the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where God’s remembrance often leads to action on behalf of His covenant. because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahThe central figure in the book, Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who played a crucial role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and reforming the community. He was a man of prayer and action, deeply concerned with the spiritual and physical restoration of his people. 2. Priesthood Refers to the Levitical priests who were set apart to serve in the temple and lead the people in worship. The priesthood was a sacred office established by God, and any defilement of it was a serious offense. 3. Levites Members of the tribe of Levi, who were assigned specific religious duties in the temple. They assisted the priests and were integral to the worship and spiritual life of Israel. 4. Covenant of the Priesthood This covenant refers to the special agreement between God and the priests, particularly the descendants of Aaron, to serve Him and maintain the holiness of the temple and its services. 5. Defilement In this context, defilement refers to the corruption or desecration of the priesthood and its duties, which Nehemiah sought to address and rectify. Teaching Points The Importance of Spiritual LeadershipSpiritual leaders are called to a high standard of holiness and integrity. Just as the priests and Levites were set apart for God's service, so are today's spiritual leaders expected to lead by example. The Seriousness of Defilement Defiling the priesthood was a grave sin because it compromised the spiritual health of the entire community. Believers today must guard against anything that would defile their witness or service to God. God's Faithfulness to His Covenant Despite human failure, God remains faithful to His covenant. This should encourage believers to seek His forgiveness and strive for holiness in their lives. The Role of Prayer in Addressing Sin Nehemiah's prayerful response to the defilement of the priesthood demonstrates the power of prayer in seeking God's intervention and guidance in correcting wrongs. The Call to Holiness for All Believers As a royal priesthood, all believers are called to live lives that reflect God's holiness, serving Him faithfully and maintaining the purity of their witness.(29) Remember them.--This priestly violation of law is committed to God alone for punishment. And of the Levites.--God chose the tribe of Levi for Himself, specially the house of Aaron, and every priest was to be "holy to the Lord" (Leviticus 21:6; Leviticus 21:8). This was "the covenant of the priesthood;" though there may be an undertone of reference to the great covenant in Nehemiah 10. Verse 29. - They have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. We look in vain for any distinct "covenant" which the priestly order broke by allying itself with the heathen, or indeed for any special law forbidding the priests to take heathen wives, which was not equally binding upon laymen. But Nehemiah feels that every sin is worse in a priest than in one who is not a priest; that a priest who contracts a pollution "pollutes the priesthood;" and that there is a tacit covenant by which priests and Levites bind themselves to holiness of life more absolutely and definitely than others.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Rememberזָכְרָ֥ה (zā·ḵə·rāh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male them, לָהֶ֖ם (lā·hem) Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They O my God, אֱלֹהָ֑י (’ĕ·lō·hāy) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative because עַ֚ל (‘al) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against they have defiled גָּאֳלֵ֣י (gā·’o·lê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1352: Defiling, defilement the priesthood הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה (hak·kə·hun·nāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3550: Priesthood and the covenant וּבְרִ֥ית (ū·ḇə·rîṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1285: A covenant of the priesthood הַכְּהֻנָּ֖ה (hak·kə·hun·nāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3550: Priesthood and of the Levites. וְהַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (wə·hal·wî·yim) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi Links Nehemiah 13:29 NIVNehemiah 13:29 NLT Nehemiah 13:29 ESV Nehemiah 13:29 NASB Nehemiah 13:29 KJV Nehemiah 13:29 BibleApps.com Nehemiah 13:29 Biblia Paralela Nehemiah 13:29 Chinese Bible Nehemiah 13:29 French Bible Nehemiah 13:29 Catholic Bible OT History: Nehemiah 13:29 Remember them my God because they have (Neh Ne) |
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