The Meaning of Nehemiah 12:44 Explained

Nehemiah 12:44

KJV: And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

YLT: And certain are appointed on that day over the chambers for treasures, for heave-offerings, for first-fruits, and for tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for priests, and for Levites, for the joy of Judah is over the priests, and over the Levites, who are standing up.

Darby: And at that time men were appointed over the chambers of the treasures for the heave-offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions assigned by the law for the priests and the Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests, and over the Levites that waited.

ASV: And on that day were men appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And at that time  were some  appointed  over the chambers  for the treasures,  for the offerings,  for the firstfruits,  and for the tithes,  to gather  into them out of the fields  of the cities  the portions  of the law  for the priests  and Levites:  for Judah  rejoiced  for the priests  and for the Levites  that waited. 

What does Nehemiah 12:44 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 12:44-47 - Neglect Of Religious Duties
In Nehemiah 12:44-47 we have recorded the care that was manifested for the worthy maintenance of those who ministered in sacred things. As a result there were glad outbursts of minstrelsy and holy joy. Make room in your life for songs and praises, Psalms 33:1. In the opening of Nehemiah 13:1-31 we see how the Word of God cuts like a two-edged sword against evil. Happy are they who attend to its solemn warnings. The law referred to here was Deuteronomy 23:3-5. Tobiah was an Ammonite, and it was a scandalous thing that the high priest was not only allied to him by marriage, but had cast out the stores of the Temple in order to make room for him in the sacred edifice. Tobiah's influence was so great that the rest shrank from putting the law of separation into operation against him. When Nehemiah returned from a long sojourn in Persia he cast out all of Tobiah's goods, and restored the chamber to its proper use. If we have given up a chamber in our heart to any Tobiah, we must be prepared to do likewise. [source]

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 12:44 mean?

And were appointed at time that some over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings the firstfruits and the tithes to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions [specified] by the Law for the priests and Levites for rejoiced Judah the priests and Levites who ministered
וַיִּפָּקְד֣וּ בַיּוֹם֩ הַה֨וּא אֲנָשִׁ֜ים עַל־ הַנְּשָׁכ֗וֹת לָא֨וֹצָר֥וֹת לַתְּרוּמוֹת֮ לָרֵאשִׁ֣ית וְלַמַּֽעַשְׂרוֹת֒ לִכְנ֨וֹס בָּהֶ֜ם לִשְׂדֵ֤י הֶעָרִים֙ מְנָא֣וֹת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם כִּ֚י שִׂמְחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֔ה הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְעַל־ הַלְוִיִּ֖ם הָעֹמְדִֽים

וַיִּפָּקְד֣וּ  And  were  appointed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
בַיּוֹם֩  at  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֨וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אֲנָשִׁ֜ים  some 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַנְּשָׁכ֗וֹת  the  rooms 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: נִשְׁכָּה  
Sense: chamber, room, cell.
לָא֨וֹצָר֥וֹת  of  the  storehouse 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֹוצָר  
Sense: treasure, storehouse.
לַתְּרוּמוֹת֮  for  the  offerings 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: תְּרוּמָה  
Sense: contribution, offering.
לָרֵאשִׁ֣ית  the  firstfruits 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
וְלַמַּֽעַשְׂרוֹת֒  and  the  tithes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַעֲשֵׂר  
Sense: tithe, tenth part.
לִכְנ֨וֹס  to  gather 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: כָּנַס  
Sense: to gather, collect, wrap.
בָּהֶ֜ם  into  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
לִשְׂדֵ֤י  from  the  fields 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
הֶעָרִים֙  of  the  cities 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
מְנָא֣וֹת  the  portions  [specified]  by 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מְנָת  
Sense: portion.
הַתּוֹרָ֔ה  the  Law 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים  for  the  priests 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם  and  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
שִׂמְחַ֣ת  rejoiced 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
יְהוּדָ֔ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַלְוִיִּ֖ם  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
הָעֹמְדִֽים  who  ministered 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.