Devine Scripture

Nehemiah 7:65

What does Nehemiah 7:65 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 7:65 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 7:65 means

The governor orders that these men not eat of the most holy things until a priest arises with Urim and Thummim. This directive defers final judgment to God’s decision through recognized means. It shows humility and restraint: leadership protects holiness without permanently closing the door. The Urim and Thummim were associated with discerning God’s will; appealing to them acknowledges that ultimate authority lies with the Lord. The community thus safeguards the temple’s purity while seeking God’s timing to resolve uncertainty, upholding order and dependence on divine guidance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Tirshatha said that they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by the Urim and Thummim.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the Tirshatha saith to them that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of the priest with Urim and Thummim.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eat of the holies of holies, until there stood up a priest learned and skilful.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up the priest with Urim and Thummim.

Context

Verse 65 concludes the section on uncertain lineages (verses 61–65) by prescribing a cautious, God-dependent approach. After excluding unverified priests from sacred privileges in verse 64, the governor now defers the matter until God provides a clear answer. With this, the chapter is ready to move from questions of legitimacy to a broad summary of the community’s size and resources (verses 66–69) and then to their contributions (verses 70–72). The flow moves from verification to consolidation and celebration of restored life.

v.64These sought their registeramongthose that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.

v.65This passage

v.66The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

Cross references

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

  • Exodus 28:30

    And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before Jehovah: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually.

  • Deuteronomy 33:8

    And of Levi he said, Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with thy godly one, Whom thou didst prove at Massah, With whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

  • Ezra 2:63

    And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

  • Leviticus 10:17

    Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the place of the sanctuary, seeing it is most holy, and he hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Jehovah?

  • Nehemiah 10:1

    Now those that sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

  • Leviticus 7:19

    And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire. And as for the flesh, every one that is clean shall eat thereof:

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