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and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God;
Nehemiah 11:16 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God’s house;
  • KJV And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
  • BSB Shabbethai and Jozabad, two leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God;
  • NKJV Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of the business outside of the house of God;
  • NLT Also Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were in charge of the work outside the Temple of God.

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

Shabbethai and Jozabad, Levite chiefs, oversaw the temple's external affairs. Practical administration was entrusted to faithful leaders.

Overview

These two leading Levites managed the 'outward business' of God's house — the practical and administrative tasks supporting worship. The temple required not only sacred service but also organization of its material affairs. Their role reminds us that faithful administration and stewardship are themselves valued forms of service in the work of God.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • Ezra 8:33On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;
  • 1 Chr 26:20Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of God’s house and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
  • Acts 6:2–3The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
  • Neh 8:7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people stayed in their place.
  • 1 Chr 26:29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Nehemiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Nehemiah 11:16YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on NehemiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 11:16 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.