Bible Glide

Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

After confession in the previous chapter, the people now put their commitment in writing. Nehemiah 10 lists the leaders who sealed the covenant and the promises the community made to live under God's law, keep the Sabbath, and provide for worship at the house of God.

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What happens in Nehemiah 10?

This chapter begins with a long list of priests, Levites, and leaders who seal the covenant on behalf of the people. The rest of the community then joins in a sworn promise to obey the Law given through Moses. Their vows cover daily life and worship: refusing marriages that would pull them away from faithfulness, honoring the Sabbath, resting the land every seventh year, and canceling debts. They also commit to support temple service through regular offerings, firstfruits, firstborn animals, and tithes so that worship and the work of the priests and Levites will continue.

Nehemiah 10 follows the public confession and prayer of chapter 9. After hearing God's faithfulness and their own failure, the people respond with a covenant renewal. This chapter moves from repentance to practical obedience, showing how the restored community planned to organize its worship, finances, and daily conduct as they rebuilt life around God's presence.

Themes to notice

  • Covenant commitmentThe people bind themselves to obey God's law with a sworn promise rather than a vague intention.
  • Holiness in daily lifeTheir vows shape marriage, work, Sabbath rest, and land use, showing faithfulness in ordinary habits.
  • Support for worshipThe community pledges offerings and tithes so the temple service and priestly ministry can continue.

Questions for Nehemiah 10

  • What stands out to you about the people who sealed the covenant and the way the whole community joined them?
  • Why do you think the vows in this chapter connect worship with everyday choices like marriage, Sabbath, and giving?
  • What does this chapter teach about shared responsibility for God's house and for the life of faith?

Read the full text of Nehemiah 10 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Nehemiah 10

Signers of the Covenant

1Now these were the ones who sealed the document:

Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah,

and also Zedekiah,

2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.

These were the priests.

9The Levites:

Jeshua son of Azaniah,

Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10and their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14And the leaders of the people:

Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

The Vows of the Covenant

28“The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand,29hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to carefully obey all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.30We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons.31When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow, and will cancel every debt.

32We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God:33for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.34We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.35We will also bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD year by year.36And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.37Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor.38A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.39For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”

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