Nehemiah 9:4
What does Nehemiah 9:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:4 means
Specific Levites take their place on the stairs and cry out with a loud voice to Jehovah. Public leadership in prayer matters; these named servants guide the people in corporate approach to God. The loud cry is earnest, not theatrical. It matches the gravity of the moment and the large assembly. By naming Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, the text honors faithful leaders who stand between God and His people in intercession. Their prominence indicates order and responsibility in worship. The community does not drift into vague spirituality; it is led in focused supplication that will soon become a thoroughly biblical recounting of God’s saving works.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani took their places on the steps of the Levites, crying in a loud voice to the Lord their God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And there stand up on the ascent, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, Chenani, and they cry with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And there stood up upon the step of the Levites, Josue, and Bani, and Cedmihel, Sabania, Bonni, Sarebias, Bani, and Chanani: and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Then stood up upon the platform of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, Chenani, and cried with a loud voice to Jehovah theirGod.
Context
After hours in Scripture and confession, the people are ready to be led in a unified prayer. Verse 4 identifies those who will lift their voices on behalf of the assembly. In the next verse, another list of Levites issues a call to praise. Together, these verses transition from preparation to proclamation: the people have listened; now they will bless Jehovah and review His deeds, establishing the theological backbone for their repentance and renewed covenant.
v.3And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day; andanotherfourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah their God.
v.4This passage
v.5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, andPethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 20:19
And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.
- Psalms 130:1
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.
- Psalms 77:1
I will cry unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice; and he will give ear unto me.
- Nehemiah 10:9
And the Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
- Nehemiah 8:7
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
- Lamentations 3:8
Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.
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