The Meaning of Nehemiah 13:11 Explained

Nehemiah 13:11

KJV: Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

YLT: And I strive with the prefects, and say, 'Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them, and set them on their station;

Darby: Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

ASV: Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then contended  I with the rulers,  and said,  Why is the house  of God  forsaken?  And I gathered them together,  and set  them in their place. 

What does Nehemiah 13:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 13:1-14 - 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 13

1  Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude
4  Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed
10  He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15  the violation of the Sabbath;
23  and the marriages with the strange wives

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 13:11 mean?

so I contended with the rulers and said why is forsaken the house of God and I gathered them together and set them in their place
וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙ אֶת־ הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה מַדּ֖וּעַ ؟ נֶעֱזַ֣ב בֵּית־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וָֽאֶ֨קְבְּצֵ֔ם וָֽאַעֲמִדֵ֖ם עַל־ עָמְדָֽם

וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙  so  I  contended 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
הַסְּגָנִ֔ים  the  rulers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֶגֶן  
Sense: ruler, prefect, governor, a subordinate ruler.
וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מַדּ֖וּעַ  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מַדּוּעַ  
Sense: why?, on what account?, wherefore?.
؟ נֶעֱזַ֣ב  is  forsaken 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
בֵּית־  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וָֽאֶ֨קְבְּצֵ֔ם  and  I  gathered  them  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
וָֽאַעֲמִדֵ֖ם  and  set  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
עָמְדָֽם  their  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹמֶד  
Sense: standing place.