Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
Parallel translations
- WEB Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
- KJV Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
- NKJV Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
- NASB Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
- NLT Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah complete the list of priests who sealed the covenant. It matters because it closes the priestly section of committed leaders.
Overview
These final priestly names round out the list, expressly identified as 'the priests.' The full roster shows the priestly order's united commitment to God's law. Their leadership in covenant faithfulness foreshadows the perfect priesthood of Christ, in whom all believers become a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Neh 12:18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jonathan;
- Neh 3:29Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.
- Neh 12:42and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then the choirs sang out under the direction of Jezrahiah.
- Neh 12:5–6Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
- Ezra 10:21From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 10:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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