Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.
Parallel translations
- WEB Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were close to them according to their offices.
- BSB Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood across from them in the services.
- NKJV Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties.
- NASB Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their service divisions.
- NLT Their associates, Bakbukiah and Unni, stood opposite them during the service.
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
Bakbukiah, Unno, and their relatives served opposite them in the worship duties. The Levites were arranged for ordered, responsive praise.
Overview
These Levites stood 'opposite' the others according to their offices, suggesting antiphonal singing where choirs answered one another in praise. Such ordered, responsive worship gave beauty and structure to the temple's songs. The arrangement shows the care taken that worship be both heartfelt and well-ordered, fitting for the God who is worthy of honor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Neh 12:24And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
- Ps 134:1–3Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
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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 12:9 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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