And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it.”
- BSB In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
- NKJV “And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”
- NASB ¶“Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites, and our priests.”
- NLT The people responded, “In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and 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
In response, the people make and write a firm covenant, sealed by their leaders. It matters because confession issues in renewed, binding commitment to God.
Overview
The prayer of confession leads to action: a 'sure covenant' set in writing and sealed by princes, Levites, and priests. Genuine repentance produces fresh dedication to obey God. While such resolutions are good, the history just rehearsed shows human covenant-keeping always falls short, pointing to the need for the new covenant secured by Christ, who keeps it on our behalf.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Neh 10:1Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
- 2 Chr 34:31And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
- Neh 10:29They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
- Ezra 10:3Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
- 2 Chr 29:10Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
- 2 Kgs 23:3And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
- 2 Chr 23:16And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD’s people.
- 2 Chr 15:12–13And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
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 9:38 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.