Nehemiah 10:28

What does Nehemiah 10:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 10:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 10:28 means

Now the rest of the people—priests, Levites, porters, singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands—stand with their families to embrace the covenant. This highlights inclusivity and discernment: wives, sons, and daughters who can understand also commit. Separation here is positive, a turning from practices contrary to God’s law to serve Him. The whole community recognizes that obedience is not for an elite but for every household that knows God’s will.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that had knowledge, and understanding;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that had knowledge, and understanding;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the door-keepers, the music-makers, the Nethinim, and all those who had made themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, to keep the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and wisdom;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and every one who hath been separated from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every knowing intelligent one,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the rest of the people, priests, Levites, porters, and singing men, Nathinites, and all that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law ofGod, their wives, their sons and their daughters, every one having knowledge [and] having understanding,

Context

After the leaders’ rosters, the narrative includes the broader community. This verse gathers all classes involved in temple service and ordinary life, emphasizing that covenant renewal is comprehensive. The mention of separation sets up the specific vow against intermarriage and the safeguards for Sabbath holiness and temple support. The focus now shifts from who is included to what, exactly, they promise under oath.

v.27Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

v.28This passage

v.29they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Nehemiah 13:3

    And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:2

    Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

  • Jeremiah 4:2

    and thou shalt swear, As Jehovah liveth, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

  • Leviticus 20:24

    But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey: I am Jehovah your God, who hath separated you from the peoples.

  • Romans 1:1

    Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, calledto bean apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

  • Ezra 10:11

    Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.

Related questions readers ask