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.
- BSB 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 6:14My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
- Mal 2:4–8And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Num 16:9–10Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
- Num 25:12–13Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
- Lev 21:1–7And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:
- Mal 2:10–12Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
- Ps 59:5–13Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
- 1 Sam 2:30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
- 2 Tim 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
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 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
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.