Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
Parallel translations
- WEB Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
- KJV Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
- NKJV Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
- NASB Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
- NLT Remember them, O my God, for they have defiled the priesthood and the solemn vows of the priests and Levites.
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
Nehemiah prayed that God would remember those who defiled the priesthood and its covenant. It matters because he entrusts the judgment of covenant-breakers to God rather than mere human resentment.
Overview
Nehemiah brings the priestly defilement before God, asking Him to hold the offenders accountable for violating the covenant of priesthood. He commits justice to the Lord, the rightful Judge. His prayer reflects zeal for God's holiness, and points to the spotless covenant of the priesthood of Christ, who keeps it perfectly forever.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Neh 6:14O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.
- Mal 2:4–8Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Num 16:9–10Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
- Num 25:12–13Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace.
- Lev 21:1–7Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people,
- Mal 2:10–12Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
- Ps 59:5–13O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah
- 1 Sam 2:30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
- 2 Tim 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
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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 13:29 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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