Bible Strands
Nehemiah 13:29
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah speaks as the temple reformer and governor, addressing God immediately after expelling a high priest’s grandson for marrying into Sanballat’s family. This prayer concludes a narrative sequence detailing his corrective actions against intermarriage and covenant violation.
The words — The verse hinges on זָכְרָ֥ה (za.khe.Ra/h), meaning “remember,” and גָּאֳלֵי (go.'o.Lei), translated here as “defilement.” Nehemiah petitions God to acknowledge the specific corruption that has violated the priesthood and the Levitical covenant.
The thread — This intercession mirrors Nehemiah 6:14, where the leader asks God to remember his adversaries for their opposition. The focus on priestly defilement directly corresponds to the holiness regulations detailed in Leviticus 21:1.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that covenant leadership requires strict boundary maintenance. It asks the reader to see that institutional corruption requires divine judgment and immediate corrective action.
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
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 6:14 O 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.
- Leviticus 21:1 Then 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,
- Numbers 16:9 Is 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?
- Numbers 25:12 Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace.
- Malachi 2:4 Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- 1 Samuel 2:30 Therefore, 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.
- Psalms 59:5 O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah
- Malachi 2:10 Do 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?
- 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.