The Meaning of Nehemiah 12:31 Explained

Nehemiah 12:31

KJV: Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

YLT: And I bring up the heads of Judah upon the wall, and appoint two great thanksgiving companies and processions. At the right, on the wall, to the dung-gate;

Darby: And I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great choirs and processions, on the right hand upon the wall towards the dung-gate.

ASV: Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession; whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

What does Nehemiah 12:31 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 12

1  The priests and the Levites which came up with Zerubbabel
10  The succession of high priests
22  Certain chief Levites
27  The solemnity of the dedication of the walls
44  The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 12:31 mean?

So I brought up - the leaders of Judah on on the wall and appointed two thanksgiving [choirs] large and [One] went to the right hand on the wall toward Gate the Refuse
וָאַעֲלֶה֙ אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל לַחוֹמָ֑ה וָאַעֲמִ֡ידָה שְׁתֵּ֣י תוֹדֹת֩ גְּדוֹלֹ֨ת וְתַהֲלֻכֹ֤ת לַיָּמִין֙ לַחוֹמָ֔ה לְשַׁ֖עַר הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת

וָאַעֲלֶה֙  So  I  brought  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
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.
שָׂרֵ֣י  the  leaders 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
יְהוּדָ֔ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
לַחוֹמָ֑ה  on  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
וָאַעֲמִ֡ידָה  and  appointed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
שְׁתֵּ֣י  two 
Parse: Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
תוֹדֹת֩  thanksgiving  [choirs] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תֹּודָה  
Sense: confession, praise, thanksgiving.
גְּדוֹלֹ֨ת  large 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
וְתַהֲלֻכֹ֤ת  and  [One]  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural
Root: תַּהֲלוּכָה  
Sense: procession.
לַיָּמִין֙  to  the  right  hand 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
לַחוֹמָ֔ה  on  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
לְשַׁ֖עַר  toward  Gate 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת  the  Refuse 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַשְׁפֹּת  
Sense: ash heap, refuse heap, dung-hill.