Nehemiah 12:2 — Word Study
WLCאֲמַרְיָ֥ה מַלּ֖וּךְ חַטּֽוּשׁ׃
BSAAmariahʼĂmaryâh [a high priest's son] MalluchMallûwk [a priest who returned to Jerusalem] HattushChaṭṭûwsh [a descendant of David]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֲמַרְיָ֥ה | Amariah | Noun proper masculine |
| מַלּ֖וּךְ | Malluch | Noun proper masculine |
| חַטּֽוּשׁ׃ | Hattush | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, |
| KJV | Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, |
| ASV | Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, |
| YLT | Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, |
| WEB | Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, |
| BBE | Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, |
All translations agree on the names listed in this verse.
This verse consists of a simple list of names without additional clauses or phrases.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Nehemiah 12:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Return of the Exilesgenerated
Nehemiah 12:2 lists the names of priests who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel, emphasizing the restoration of the priesthood after the Babylonian exile. This verse highlights the importance of these individuals in re-establishing worship and community life in the rebuilt city, reflecting the continuity of Israel's religious heritage.
Cross References
The Key Word — אֲמַרְיָה, 'a.mar.Yahgenerated
The name אֲמַרְיָה (*Amariah*) is a proper masculine noun meaning 'Jehovah speaks' or 'Yah has promised.' It refers to several individuals, including a high priest's son and a chief priest during King Jehoshaphat's reign. The parsing indicates it is a singular noun, emphasizing its identity as a name of significance within the priestly lineage.
Amariah appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, particularly in priestly roles, highlighting its importance in the lineage of the Levites. The name's association with divine communication underscores its relevance in the religious life of Israel.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse is straightforward, consisting of a noun phrase that lists the names of the priests. The finite verb is implicit, as the sentence serves to identify these individuals rather than convey an action.
The names are presented in a simple list format, emphasizing their collective importance in the context of the return from exile. This structure reflects the Hebrew style of genealogical and historical records.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֲמַרְיָה as αμαρια, which maintains the name's identity while adapting it to Greek phonetics. This choice shows continuity in the recognition of Amariah's significance.
The other two names, Malluch and Hattush, are similarly rendered in the Septuagint, indicating a consistent understanding of these figures across both Hebrew and Greek texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nehemiah 12:2 lists three priests: Amariah, Malluch, and Hattush. Amariah is a high priest's son, Malluch is a priest who returned with Zerubbabel, and Hattush is a descendant of David. These names highlight the importance of the priestly lineage in the restoration of Jerusalem.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
They were priests who returned to Jerusalem after the exile, playing significant roles in the restoration of worship.
Amariah means 'Jehovah speaks' or 'Yah has promised,' indicating a connection to divine communication.
The priestly lineage is crucial for maintaining the religious practices and community life of Israel, especially after the return from exile.
They helped re-establish the worship and religious community in Jerusalem, contributing to the rebuilding efforts.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the names of these priests enhance my view of the restoration of Jerusalem?
- What significance do the meanings of these names hold for the identity of the Israelite community?
- In what ways can I see parallels between the restoration efforts in Nehemiah's time and modern efforts to rebuild community?
- How can I apply the lessons of leadership and service from these priests in my own life?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 12:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 2-7. Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,.... Whose names are among the sealers of the covenant, Ne 10:3.
Read John Gill on Nehemiah 12 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAmariah, Malluch, Hattush, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Nehemiah 12 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn the repetition of Malluch’ s and some other men’ s names hereafter, , &c., there are some small variations, which are very frequent in that language.
Read Matthew Poole on Nehemiah 12 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNehemiah 12:2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,Ver. 2. Amariah, Malluch]
Read John Trapp on Nehemiah 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Tyndale line
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush;
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Strictly literal
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amaryah, Malluch, Chattush,
Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
From the Latin
Amaria, Melluch, Hattus,
Simplified
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists אֲמַרְיָ֥ה מַלּ֖וּךְ חַטּֽוּשׁ׃, and the Septuagint matches two of the three names, indicating a general agreement in the identification of these priests. The differences in word order and articles in the Septuagint reflect its own linguistic structure.
אֲמַרְיָ֥ה מַלּ֖וּךְ חַטּֽוּשׁ׃
2 of the 3 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Nehemiah 12:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אֲמַרְיָ֫הוּ (*Amaryah*) means 'Jehovah speaks' or 'Yah(u) has promised.' It refers to several individuals from the tribe of Levi, including a chief priest under Jehoshaphat and a Levite during the time of Ezra. The entries indicate that this name appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting its significance in priestly lineage.
אֲמַרְיָ֫הוּ, אֲמַרְיָה n.pr.m. (Yah(u) hath promised)
a Levite
also
.
chief priest under Jehosh.
Levite under Hezekiah
son of Hezekiah & great-grandfather of Zephaniah
a priest
a man of Judah
base
H568 אֲמַרְיָ֫הוּ, אֲמַרְיָה
568 'Amaryah am-ar-yaw'
or prolonged tAmaryahuw {am-ar-yaw'-hoo}; from 559 and 3050;
Jah has said (i.e. promised); Amarjah, the name of nine
Israelites:--Amariah.
see HEBREW for 0559
see HEBREW for 03050
אֲמַרְיָ֫הוּ (a.mar.yah) — Amariah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.7;
son of: Meraioth (H4812);
father of: Ahitub (H0285H)
§ Amariah = "Jehovah speaks" or "Yah(u) has promised"
1) Zadok's grandfather
2) a head priest's son in Solomon's time
3) a chief priest under Jehoshaphat
4) Hezekiah's son, great-grandfather of Zephaniah
5) a Levite in Ezra's time
6) a Levite under Hezekiah
7) a priest in Nehemiah's time
אֲמַרְיָ֫הוּ (a.mar.yah) — Amariah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.11;
son of: Azariah (H5838K);
father of: Ahitub (H0285I)
§ Amariah = "Jehovah speaks" or "Yah(u) has promised"
1) Zadok's grandfather
2) a head priest's son in Solomon's time
3) a chief priest under Jehoshaphat
4) Hezekiah's son, great-grandfather of Zephaniah
5) a Levite in Ezra's time
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
am-a-ri'-a ('amaryah and 'amaryahu, "the Lord has said"; compare HPN, 180, 285).
(1) A Levite in the line of Aaron-Eleazar; a son of Meraioth and grandfather of Zadok (1Ch 6:7,52) who lived in David's time. Compare Zadok (2Sa 15:27, etc.) also Ant, VIII, i, 3 and X, viii, 6.
(2) A Levite in the line of Kohath-Hebron referred to in 1Ch 23:19 and 24:23 at the time when David divided the Levites into courses.
Amariah
Said by Jehovah. (1.) One of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar (1 Chr. 6:7,52). He was probably the last of the high priests of Eleazar’s line prior to the transfer of that office to Eli, of the line of Ithamar.
(2.) A Levite, son of Hebron, of the lineage of Moses (1 Chr. 23:19; 24:23).
(3.) A “chief priest” who took an active part in the reformation under Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 19:11); probably the same as mentioned in 1 Chr. 6:9.
(4.) 1 Chr. 6:11; Ezra 7:3. (5.) One of the high priests in the time of Hezekiah (
(the Lord says , i.e. promises). Father of Ahitub according to (1 Chronicles 6:7,52) and son of Meraioth, in the line of the high priests. The high priest in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 19:11) He was the son of Azariah. The head of a Levitical house of the Kohathites. (1 Chronicles 23:13; 24:23) The head of one of the twenty-four courses of priest. (2 Chronicles 31:15; Nehemiah 10:3; 12:2,13) One of the sons of Bani in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:42) A priest who returned with Zerubbabel. (Nehemiah…
1. Son of Meraioth, a descendant of Aaron in the line of Eleazar. He was the father of Ahitub, (See AHITUB 2.) and grandfather of Zadok, in whose person the high priesthood was restored to that line, 1Ch 6:7
2. High priest at a later period, a son of Azariah, and father of another Ahitub, 1Ch 6:11. In like manner, in the same list there are three persons named Azariah.
מַלּוּךְ (mallukh) refers to a name associated with several individuals, particularly Levites and priests during the Exile and Return periods. The entries highlight various figures named Malluch or Melicu, often translated as 'counsellor,' who played roles in signing covenants and returning from exile, with references found in Nehemiah and Ezra.
ref
H4409a מַלּוּךְ . Levites
. various men
H4409b מלוכי Kt, מלִיכוּ Qr a priest
4409 Malluwk mal-luke'
or Malluwkiy (Neh. 12:14) {mal-loo-kee'}; from 4427; remnant;
Malluk, the name of five Israelites:--Malluch, Melichu (from
the margin).
see HEBREW for 04427
מַלּוּךְ (mal.lukh) — Malluch.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.27
§ Malluch or Melicu = "counsellor"
1) a Merarite Levite, son of Hashabiah
2) a descendant of Bani who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
3) a descendant of Harim who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
4) a priest who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
5) one of the leaders of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
מְלִיכוּ (me.li.khu) — Mallichi.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.10.4; also called Mallichi (Qere, KJV: Melicu; NIV: Malluk) at Neh.12.14;
Another spelling of mal.lukh (מַלּוּךְ "Malluch" H4409J)
§ Malluch or Melicu = "counsellor"
a priest who returned from exile with Zerubbabel
מַלּוּךְ (mal.lukh) — Malluch.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
mal'-uk (mallukh, "counsellor"):
(1) A Levite of the sons of Merari, ancestor of Ethan the singer (1Ch 6:44; compare 6:29).
(2) Son of Bani, among those who had foreign wives (Ezr 10:29). He is a descendant of Judah (1Ch 9:4) and is the Mamuchus of 1 Esdras 9:30.
(3) A descendant of Harim, who married a foreign wife (Ezr 10:32).
Malluch
Reigned over, or reigning. (1.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chr. 6:44).
(2.) A priest who returned from Babylon (Neh. 12:2).
(3.) Ezra 10:29. (4.) Ezra 10:32
(counsellor). A Levite of the family of Merari, and ancestor of Ethan the singer (1 Chronicles 6:44) One of the sons of Bani. (Ezra 10:29) and One of the descendants of Harim, (Ezra 10:32) who had married foreign wives. A priest or family of priests. (Nehemiah 10:4) and One of the heads of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:27) One of the families of priests who returned with Zerubbabel, (Nehemiah 12:2) probably the same as No. 4.
reigning; counseling
חַטּוּשׁ (Chattuwsh) refers to a name associated with several individuals from the Davidic line, particularly during the post-exilic period. The entries indicate that Hattush is noted as a builder of Jerusalem's walls and a descendant of Shechaniah, with mentions in 1 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. The name is understood to mean "assembled."
חַטּוּשׁ n.pr.m.
man of Davidic line, post-exil.
a builder at the wall of Jerus.
head of a priestly house, post-exil.
base
H2407 חַטּוּשׁ
2407 Chattuwsh khat-toosh'
from an unused root of uncertain signification; Chattush, the
name of four or five Israelites:--Hattush.
חַטּוּשׁ (chat.tush) — Hattush.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.3.22;
son of: Shemaiah (H8098B);
brother of: Igal (H3008I), Bariah (H1282), Neariah (H5294) and Shaphat (H8202I)
§ Hattush = "assembled"
1) a descendant of David, apparently one of the sons of Shechaniah, in the 4th or 5th generation from Zerubbabel
1a) a man who returned with Ezra; maybe same as 1 above
1b) a man who returned with Zerubbabel; maybe same as 1 above
2) son of Hashabniah who helped repair the walls of Jerusalem with Nehemiah
חַטּוּשׁ (chat.tush) — Hattush.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.8.2
§ Hattush = "assembled"
1) a descendant of David, apparently one of the sons of Shechaniah, in the 4th or 5th generation from Zerubbabel
1a) a man who returned with Ezra; maybe same as 1 above
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
hat'-ush (chaTTush):
(1) Son of Shemaiah, a descendant of the kings of Judah, in the 5th generation from Zerubbabel (1Ch 3:22). He returned with Zerubbabel and Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezr 8:2; Ne 12:2). (There is some doubt as to whether the Hatrush of the lineage of David and the priest of the same name, mentioned in Ne 10:4 and 12:2, are one and the same.) He was one of those who signed the covenant with Nehemiah (Ne 10:4).
(2) Son of Hashabneiah; aided Nehemiah to repair the walls of Jerusalem (Ne 3:10).
Horace J. Wolf
Hattush
Assembled. (1.) A priest who returned with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:2). (2.) Ezra 8:2. (3.) Neh. 3:10. (4.) Neh. 10:4. (5.) 1 Chr. 3:22.
forsaking sin