📖 Nehemiah — Chapter 12 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Nehemiah 12:1 Now these are Rthe priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
Nehemiah 12:2 Amariah, TMalluch, Hattush,
Nehemiah 12:3 TShechaniah, TRehum, TMeremoth,
Nehemiah 12:4 Iddo, TGinnetho, Abijah,
Nehemiah 12:5 TMiamin, TMaadiah, Bilgah,
Nehemiah 12:6 Shemaiah, and RJoiarib, Jedaiah,
Nehemiah 12:7 RTSallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
Nehemiah 12:8 Moreover the Levites: RJeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over Tthe thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
Nehemiah 12:9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were Rover against them in the watches.
Nehemiah 12:10 And RJeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,
Nehemiah 12:11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
Nehemiah 12:12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, Rthe chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
Nehemiah 12:13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
Nehemiah 12:14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
Nehemiah 12:15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
Nehemiah 12:16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Nehemiah 12:17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai:
Nehemiah 12:18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
Nehemiah 12:19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
Nehemiah 12:20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
Nehemiah 12:21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
Nehemiah 12:22 The Levites in the days of REliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.
Nehemiah 12:23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in Rthe book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
Nehemiah 12:24 And the chief of the Levites: RHashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
Nehemiah 12:25 RMattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the Tthresholds of the gates.
Nehemiah 12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of RNehemiah 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 Rout 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 Rplain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
Nehemiah 12:29 Also from Rthe house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified Rthemselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
Nehemiah 12:31 Then I brought up Rthe princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:
Nehemiah 12:32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
Nehemiah 12:33 And RAzariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
Nehemiah 12:34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
Nehemiah 12:35 And certain of the priests’ sons Rwith trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
Nehemiah 12:36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the Rmusical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.
Nehemiah 12:37 And at Rthe fountain gate, which was over against them, they 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.
Nehemiah 12:38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the Rtower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
Nehemiah 12:39 And from above Rthe gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, 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.
Nehemiah 12:40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
Nehemiah 12:41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
Nehemiah 12:42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers RTsang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
Nehemiah 12:43 Also that day they Roffered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were Rsome appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions Tof the law for the priests and Levites: Tfor Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that Twaited.
Nehemiah 12:45 And both Rthe singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
Nehemiah 12:46 For in the days of David Rand Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
Nehemiah 12:47 And all Israel in the days of RZerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they Tsanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Nehemiah 12:1–26 — Servants remembered across generations
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The chapter records priests and Levites from the return and later generations, including those assigned to thanksgiving and guarding. These lists preserve continuity across leaders and times. Worship's ongoing life relies on succession and remembered responsibility, not simply on one generation's enthusiasm or one leader's work.
Key Truth: Prepare for faithful service to continue beyond your own time.
Check What You Remember
1. With which leader and priest did the early servants return? (Nehemiah 12:1)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:1 (KJV).
2. Who was over thanksgiving among the early Levites? (Nehemiah 12:8)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:8 (KJV).
3. Whose command guided their praise and thanksgiving? (Nehemiah 12:24)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:24 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Nehemiah 12:27–43 — The wall dedicated with joy
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Levites and singers gather for the dedication, and the people and wall are purified. Two great thanksgiving companies move along the wall and gather at God's house. Men, women, and children rejoice, and the sound carries far. The celebration recognizes God's help in the completed work and includes the wider community.
Key Truth: Celebrate God's help with shared gratitude.
Check What You Remember
1. How many great thanksgiving companies were appointed? (Nehemiah 12:31)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:31 (KJV).
2. Who went before one company as scribe? (Nehemiah 12:36)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:36 (KJV).
3. Who made the people rejoice with great joy? (Nehemiah 12:43)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:43 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Nehemiah 12:44–47 — Provision after celebration
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
People are appointed to gather and oversee the portions for priests and Levites. Singers and gatekeepers continue their duties, and daily support is given. The chapter links dedication with the arrangements needed afterward. A celebration is strengthened when it leads to practical care for continuing service.
Key Truth: Follow celebration with dependable ongoing support.
Check What You Remember
1. What rooms held the treasures and offerings? (Nehemiah 12:44)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:44 (KJV).
2. Name one group that continued keeping the ward. (Nehemiah 12:45)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:45 (KJV).
3. How often were portions given to singers and porters? (Nehemiah 12:47)
Find it in Nehemiah 12:47 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 147:1 — The psalm calls God's praise good and pleasant.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you mark a completed work with gratitude and still plan for what comes next?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What precedent guides the organized thanksgiving?
2. What preparation accompanies the wall’s dedication?
3. How do the two thanksgiving companies reach a common destination?
4. How does the dedication’s joy include households?
5. How does continuing provision support worship after the celebration?
Notes
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