Devine Scripture

Nehemiah 9:38

What does Nehemiah 9:38 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 9:38 means

In response to all that has been confessed and remembered, the people resolve to make a sure covenant, to write it, and to have their princes, Levites, and priests affix their seals. This is a formal, communal commitment to renewed obedience under accountable leadership. The written and sealed document signifies seriousness and permanence; they are not content with vague intentions. The verse does not claim merit but expresses determination to live within God’s covenant grace. It bridges remembrance and reform: history has taught them, distress has humbled them, and now resolve takes shape in covenantal promise, setting the stage for specific pledges that will follow.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal unto it.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal unto it.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And because of all this we are making an agreement in good faith, and putting it in writing; and our rulers, our Levites, and our priests are putting their names to it.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And for all this we are making a stedfast covenant, and are writing, and over him who is sealed <FI>are<Fi> our heads, our Levites, our priests.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And because of all this we ourselves make a covenant, and write it, and our princes, our Levites, and our priests sign it.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, [and] our priests are at the sealing.

Context

The long prayer of praise, remembrance, confession, and petition reaches its practical conclusion. Verse 38 transitions into the next chapter’s list of signatories and detailed commitments. The flow from God’s faithfulness to Israel’s failings to renewed covenant underscores the chapter’s message: mercy invites wholehearted recommitment, and true sorrow moves toward concrete obedience under God.

v.37And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

v.38This passage

Cross references

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

  • Ezra 10:3

    Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

  • 2 Chronicles 15:12

    And they entered into the covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;

  • 2 Chronicles 34:31

    And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

  • Nehemiah 10:1

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

  • 2 Chronicles 29:10

    Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.

  • 2 Kings 23:3

    And the king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Nehemiah 9

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Nehemiah 9.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Nehemiah 9:38.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary