The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:38 Explained

Nehemiah 9:38

KJV: And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

YLT: And for all this we are making a stedfast covenant, and are writing, and over him who is sealed are our heads, our Levites, our priests.'

Darby: And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests are at the sealing.

ASV: And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal unto it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And because of all this we make  a sure  [covenant], and write  [it]; and our princes,  Levites,  [and] priests,  seal  [unto it]. 

What does Nehemiah 9:38 Mean?

Study Notes

seal
See Nehemiah 10:1 .

Context Summary

Nehemiah 9:22-38 - The Penalty Of Ingratitude And Disobedience
The theme of this prayer is the covenant mercy of God. However great the provocation of the Chosen People, He never swerved from His ancient promise to their fathers. He testified against them by His Spirit and chastened them for their sins. He allowed them to be oppressed by their enemies and carried into captivity. But when they returned and cried for His help they found His manifold mercies waiting to welcome, forgive, and restore them. They were conscious that there was nothing in themselves or even in their fathers to explain these wonderful dealings, and the secret had ever to be found in His great mercies. In this hour of distress, they turned back to Him and bound themselves by a faithful covenant. But, alas, even written promises will not hold the wayward heart of man. What a picture this is of our own lives, and how often have all these experiences been repeated in us! Fortunately for us we are represented now, not by our promises and prayers, but by Jesus Christ, in whom we stand and are accepted and kept. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 9

1  A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4  The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 9:38 mean?

And because of all this we make a sure [covenant] and write [it] and seal [it] our leaders our Levites [and] our priests
וּבְכָל־ זֹ֕את אֲנַ֛חְנוּ כֹּרְתִ֥ים אֲמָנָ֖ה וְכֹתְבִ֑ים וְעַל֙ הֶֽחָת֔וּם שָׂרֵ֥ינוּ לְוִיֵּ֖נוּ כֹּהֲנֵֽינוּ

וּבְכָל־  And  because  of  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
זֹ֕את  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
כֹּרְתִ֥ים  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
אֲמָנָ֖ה  a  sure  [covenant] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲמָנָה  
Sense: faith, support, sure, certain.
וְכֹתְבִ֑ים  and  write  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
הֶֽחָת֔וּם  seal  [it] 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: חָתַם  
Sense: to seal, seal up, affix a seal.
שָׂרֵ֥ינוּ  our  leaders 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
לְוִיֵּ֖נוּ  our  Levites 
Parse: Noun, proper, first person common plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
כֹּהֲנֵֽינוּ  [and]  our  priests 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.