The Meaning of Nehemiah 10:35 Explained

Nehemiah 10:35

KJV: And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

YLT: and to bring in the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of Jehovah,

Darby: and to bring the first-fruits of our land, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year to the house of Jehovah,

ASV: and to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, unto the house of Jehovah;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And to bring  the firstfruits  of our ground,  and the firstfruits  of all fruit  of all trees,  year  by year,  unto the house  of the LORD: 

What does Nehemiah 10:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 10:28-39 - A Pledge Of Better Service
The chapter opens with a list of the signers of the covenant, which was signed on behalf of the people. The consecration covenant involved-first, obedience; then, the purity of the holy seed from intermarriage with heathen peoples; next, the observance of the Sabbath, and of the Sabbatic year. In addition there was the yearly charge for the maintenance of divine worship. The great lack among Christian people is system in the apportioning of their incomes. They leave their giving to impulse, and thus often give the merest fraction of their possessions to the cause of God. We should at least give a tenth, and as much more as we can afford. If only all who read these words would resolve to imitate these impoverished exiles, and to set aside the tithe of all they earn or receive, they would discover the luxury of giving, and a new zest in receiving. The first-fruits of increased wages and revenue should also be given to God, as a tribute of thanksgiving. Let the first produce of hen-roost, orchard, and field be His. Do not neglect or forsake God's house, Nehemiah 10:39. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 10

1  The names of those who sealed the covenant
29  The points of the covenant

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 10:35 mean?

and [we made ordinances] to bring - the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees year by year to the house of Yahweh
וּלְהָבִ֞יא אֶת־ בִּכּוּרֵ֣י אַדְמָתֵ֗נוּ וּבִכּוּרֵ֛י כָּל־ פְּרִ֥י כָל־ עֵ֖ץ שָׁנָ֣ה בְשָׁנָ֑ה לְבֵ֖ית יְהוָֽה

וּלְהָבִ֞יא  and  [we  made  ordinances]  to  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בִּכּוּרֵ֣י  the  firstfruits 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בִּכּוּרִים  
Sense: first-fruits.
אַדְמָתֵ֗נוּ  of  our  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
וּבִכּוּרֵ֛י  and  the  firstfruits 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בִּכּוּרִים  
Sense: first-fruits.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
פְּרִ֥י  fruit 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פְּרִי  
Sense: fruit.
כָל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֵ֖ץ  trees 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
שָׁנָ֣ה  year 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בְשָׁנָ֑ה  by  year 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
לְבֵ֖ית  to  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.