Nehemiah 13:10
in Nehemiah 13I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
KJV
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
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This verse in Nehemiah 13
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThe portions of the Levites had not been given - Hence we find they were obliged to abandon the sacred service, and betake themselves to cultivate the land for their support. This was the fault of the rulers, who permitted all these abuses.
This site's exposition
the portions for the Levites
on Nehemiah 13:10-11
The Levites had gone unpaid: "all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields" (13:10). Nehemiah's question, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" echoes the covenant's last line, "we will not neglect the house of our God" (10:39).
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The work is neglected because the workmen are. It was not long since the payment of the salaries appointed for the singers was put into a very good method ( ch. xii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And I perceived that the portion of the Levites had not been given them,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The return of the governor put an end to these disgraceful and profane proceedings. He administered a sharp rebuke to those priests to whom the management of the temple and its services was committed, for the total neglect of their duties, and the violation of the solemn promises which they had made to him at his departure.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
etc. During Nehemiah’s absence there had been a general falling away, and there was danger of a complete national apostasy.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
And I gathered them I gathered the priests and the Levites to station them on their watches in their service, and all of Israel brought them their gifts there.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וָאֵ֣דְעָ֔ה | vaedeah | and I perceived ! | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מְנָי֥וֹת | menayot | [the] portions of | H4521 → | 8 times |
| הַלְוִיִּ֖ם | halviyim | the Levites | H3881 → | 291 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נִתָּ֑נָה | nitanah | it had been given | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| וַיִּבְרְח֧וּ | vaiyivrechu | and they had fled | H1272 → | 63 times |
| אִישׁ־ | ʾish- | each one | H376 → | 1663 times |
| לְשָׂדֵ֛הוּ | lesadehu | to own field his | H7704 → | 334 times |
| הַלְוִיִּ֥ם | halviyim | the Levites | H3881 → | 291 times |
| וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים | vehamshorerim | and the singers | H7891 → | 86 times |
| עֹשֵׂ֥י | ʾosei | [who] did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ | hamelakhah | <of> the work | H4399 → | 167 times |
וָאֵ֣דְעָ֔הand I perceived !
vaedeahH3045 →945 times
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
מְנָי֥וֹת[the] portions of
menayotH4521 →8 times
הַלְוִיִּ֖םthe Levites
halviyimH3881 →291 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
נִתָּ֑נָהit had been given
nitanahH5414 →2011 times
וַיִּבְרְח֧וּand they had fled
vaiyivrechuH1272 →63 times
אִישׁ־each one
ʾish-H376 →1663 times
לְשָׂדֵ֛הוּto own field his
lesadehuH7704 →334 times
הַלְוִיִּ֥םthe Levites
halviyimH3881 →291 times
וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖יםand the singers
vehamshorerimH7891 →86 times
עֹשֵׂ֥י[who] did
ʾoseiH6213 →2628 times
הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃<of> the work
hamelakhahH4399 →167 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Malachi 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:9–10
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
- Matthew 22:21
“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- Mark 12:17
Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
- Psalms 29:2
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
- Luke 20:25
So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- Proverbs 3:9–10
Through
Deuteronomy 12:19and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 31:4–21
Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
- Nehemiah 10:34–39
We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our…
- 2 Chronicles 31:4–21
Through
Nehemiah 10:37Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of…
it leads to
- Leviticus 23:17
Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to the LORD.
- Leviticus 23:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Nehemiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.