Bible Strands
Nehemiah 13:17
Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah confronts the nobles of Judah regarding their violation of Sabbath regulations. This rebuke follows his observation of Sabbath commerce, including Tyrian merchants selling fish in Jerusalem and others treading winepresses and transporting goods on the Sabbath.
The words — The text uses אָרִ֕יבָ/ה (a.Ri.va/h) for "I contended" or "I rebuked," and חֹרֵ֣י (cho.Rei) for "nobles." These terms establish a formal confrontation with the ruling class over a specific transgression.
The thread — Nehemiah employs the same confrontational language in Nehemiah 13:11 when addressing neglected temple duties, in Nehemiah 13:25 when cursing and physically disciplining intermarried officials, and in Nehemiah 5:7 when rebuking nobles for exacting usury from their brothers.
Why it lands — The verse demands direct accountability from those in authority for actions that violate established covenant boundaries. It requires readers to recognize that leadership failures in sacred observance directly trigger divine judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 13:11 So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
- Nehemiah 13:25 I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!
- Nehemiah 5:7 and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
- Psalms 82:1 A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:
- Proverbs 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
- Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Jeremiah 5:5 I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.
- Jeremiah 13:18 Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”
- Jeremiah 22:2 saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David—you and your officials and your people who enter these gates.
- Micah 3:1 Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?