Nehemiah 12 · Verse 27

Nehemiah 12:27

And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
Nehemiah 12:27, King James Version

Nehemiah 12:27 in other translations

BSBAt the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
WEBAt the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness, both with giving thanks and with singing, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and with harps.
ASVAnd at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
YLTAnd at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them in to Jerusalem, to make the dedication even with gladness, and with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps;
DARBYAnd at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to hold the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, lutes and harps.
BBEAnd when the time came for the wall of Jerusalem to be made holy, they sent for the Levites out of all their places to come to Jerusalem, to keep the feast with joy, and with praise and melody, with brass and corded instruments of music.
WebsterAnd at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

What does Nehemiah 12:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 12:27-43
27-43. at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem--This ceremony of consecrating the wall and gates of the city was an act of piety on the part of Nehemiah, not merely to thank God in a general way for having been enabled to bring the building to a happy completion, but especially because that city was the place which He had chosen. It also contained the temple which was hallowed by the manifestation of His presence, and anew set apart to His service. It was on these accounts that Jerusalem was called "the holy city," and by this public and solemn act of religious observance, after a long period of neglect and desecration, it was, as it were, restored to its rightful proprietor. The dedication consisted in a solemn ceremonial, in which the leading authorities, accompanied by the Levitical singers, summoned from all parts of the country, and by a vast concourse of people, marched in imposing procession round the city walls, and, pausing at intervals to engage in united praises, prayer, and sacrifices, supplicated the continued presence, favor, and blessing on "the holy city." "The assembly convened near Jaffa Gate, where the procession commences. Then (Ne 12:31) I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall (near the Valley Gate), and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall towards the dung gate (through Bethzo). And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah. And (Ne 12:37) at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they (descending by the Tower of Siloam on the interior, and then reascending) went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward (by the staircase of the rampart, having descended to dedicate the fountain structures). And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them (both parties having started from the junction of the first and second walls), and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall (beyond the corner gate). And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate (and the gate of Benjamin), and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate; and they stood still in the prison gate (or high gate, at the east end of the bridge). So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and half of the rulers with me (having thus performed the circuit of the investing walls), and arrived in the courts of the temple" [Barclay, City of the Great King].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 At the dedication of the wall - They sent for the Levites from all quarters, that this dedication might be as solemn and majestic as possible; and it is likely that this was done as soon as convenient after the walls were finished. The dedication seems to have consisted in processions of the most eminent persons around the walls, and thanksgivings to God, who had enabled them to bring the work to so happy a conclusion: and no doubt to all this were added a particular consecration of the city to God, and the most earnest invocation that he would take it under his guardian care, and defend it and its inhabitants against all their enemies. The ancients consecrated their cities to the gods, and the very walls were considered as sacred. Ovid gives us an account of the ceremonies used in laying the foundations of the walls of the city of Rome, by Romulus. After having consulted together who should give name to the city, and have the direction of the wall by which it was necessary to surround it, they agreed to let the case be decided by the flight of birds. One brother went to the top of the Mons Palatinus, the other to that of Mount Aventine. Romulus saw twelve birds, Remus saw but six; the former, therefore, according to agreement, took the command. The poet thus describes the ceremonies used on the occasion: - Apta dies legitur, qua moenia signet aratro; Sacra Palis suberant; inde movetur opus. Fossa fit ad solidum: fruges jaciuntur in ima. Et de vicino terra petita solo Fossa repletur humo, plenaeque imponitur ara; Et novus accenso finditur igne focus. Inde, premens stivam, designat moenia sulco; Alba jugum niveo cum bove vacca tulit. Vox tuit haec regis; Condenti Jupiter urbem, Et genitor Mavors, Vestaque mater ades: Quosque pium est adhibere deos, advertite cuncti: Auspicibus vobis hoc mihi surgat opus. Longa sit huic aetas, dominaeque potentia terrae: Sitque sub hac oriens occiduusque dies! Ille precabatur. Ovid, Fast. lib. iv., ver. 819. "A proper day is chosen in which he may mark out the walls with the plough: the festival of Pales was at hand when the work was begun. A ditch is dug down to the solid clay, into which they cast the fruits of the season; and bring earth from the neighboring ground, with which they fill up the trench; and on it build an altar, by whose flames the newly made hearth is cleft asunder. Then Romulus, seizing the plough, which a white heifer yoked with a snowy bull drew along, marked out the walls with a furrow. And thus spoke the king: 'O Jupiter, and Father Mars, with Matron Vesta, prosper me in founding this city! And all ye gods, approach, whomsoever it is right to invoke! Under your auspices may the work arise; may it endure for countless ages, and be the mistress of the world; and may the East and the West be under its control!' Thus he prayed." The above is a literal version, and the account is not a little curious.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Nehemiah 12:27-43
All our cities, all our houses, must have holiness to the Lord written upon them. The believer should undertake nothing which he does not dedicate to the Lord. We are concerned to cleanse our hands, and purify our hearts, when any work for God is to pass through them. Those that would be employed to sanctify others, must sanctify themselves, and set themselves apart for God. To those who are sanctified, all their creature-comforts and enjoyments are made holy. The people greatly rejoiced. All that share in public mercies, ought to join in public thanksgivings.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Nehemiah 12:27 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּבַחֲנֻכַּ֞תu.va.cha.nu.Katand at [the] dedication ofH2598
חוֹמַ֣תcho.Mat[the] wall ofH2346
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389
בִּקְשׁ֤וּbik.Shupeople soughtH1245
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַלְוִיִּם֙hal.vi.Yimthe LevitesH3881
מִכָּל\־mi.kolfrom allH3605
מְק֣וֹמֹתָ֔םme.Ko.mo.Tamplaces theirH4725
לַהֲבִיאָ֖םla.ha.vi.'Amto bring themH935
לִֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑םli.ru.sha.Limto JerusalemH3389
לַעֲשֹׂ֨תla.'a.Sotto celebrateH6213
חֲנֻכָּ֤הcha.nu.KahdedicationH2598
וְשִׂמְחָה֙ve.sim.Chahand joyH8057
וּבְתוֹד֣וֹתu.ve.to.Dotand with thanksgivingsH8426
וּבְשִׁ֔ירu.ve.Shirand with songH7892
מְצִלְתַּ֖יִםme.tzil.Ta.yimcymbalsH4700
נְבָלִ֥יםne.va.LimlyresH5035
וּבְכִנֹּרֽוֹת\׃u.ve.khi.no.Rotand with harpsH3658

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Nehemiah 12:27

  • 1 Chronicles 15:16

    And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:13

    It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;

  • 1 Chronicles 15:28

    Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:30

    Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • Deuteronomy 20:5

    And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:12

    And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:4

    And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:

  • 2 Samuel 6:12

    And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed–edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed–edom into the city of David with gladness.

  • Nehemiah 11:20

    And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:5

    Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed–edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

  • 2 Chronicles 29:4-11

    And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. …

  • Psalms 149:3

    Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A.M. 3559. B.C. 445. the dedication.Jerusalem was the holy city, and the wall was built under the immediate superintendence and blessing of Jehovah: it was therefore proper that it should be dedicated to that God who was there worshipped by solemn praises, prayers, and sacrifices. The dedication seems to have consisted in processions of the most eminent persons around the walls, with thanksgivings to God, who had enabled them to bring the work to so happy a conclusion; and, no doubt, to all this were added a particular consecration of the city to God, and the most earnest invocation that He would take it under His guardianship, and defend it and its inhabitants against their enemies.
De 20:5; Ps 30:1; *title
out.
11:20; 1Ch 15:4,12; 25:6; 26:31; 2Ch 5:13; 29:4-11,30; Ezr 8:15-20
gladness.
8:17; De 16:11; 2Sa 6:12; 2Ch 29:30; Ezr 6:16; Ps 98:4-6; 100:1,2
Php 4:4
thanksgivings.
1Ch 13:8; 15:16,28; 16:5,42; 23:5; 25:1-6; 2Ch 5:13; 7:6
Ezr 3:10,11; Ps 81:1-4; 92:1-3; 149:3; 150:2-5; Re 5:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Nehemiah 12:26

    These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

  • Nehemiah 12:27

    And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

  • Nehemiah 12:28

    And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

Read all of Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y á la dedicación del muro de Jerusalem buscaron á los Levitas de todos sus lugares, para traerlos á Jerusalem, para hacer la dedicación y la fiesta con alabanzas y con cánticos, con címbalos, salterios y cítaras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et lors de la dédicace de la muraille de Jérusalem, on envoya chercher les lévites de tous leurs lieux d’habitation, pour les amener à Jérusalem, pour faire la dédicace avec joie, avec des louanges et des chants, avec des cymbales, des luths et des harpes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und bei der Einweihung der Mauer von Jerusalem suchte man die Leviten aus allen ihren Orten, daß man sie nach Jerusalem brächte, um die Einweihung zu feiern mit Freuden, und mit Lobliedern und mit Gesang, mit Cymbeln, Harfen und Lauten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In dedicatione autem muri Jerusalem, requisierunt Levitas de omnibus locis suis ut adducerent eos in Jerusalem, et facerent dedicationem et lætitiam in actione gratiarum, et cantico, et in cymbalis, psalteriis, et citharis.