Nehemiah 12:21 — Word Study
WLCלְחִלְקִיָּ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה נְתַנְאֵֽל׃
BSAof HilkiahChilqîyâh [a high priest, leader of the Israelites] HashabiahChăshabyâh [Jehovah has considered] [and] of JedaiahYᵉdaʻyâh [known by Jehovah] NethanelNᵉthanʼêl [given by God, a gift from the Lord]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְחִלְקִיָּ֣ה | of Hilkiah | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה | Hashabiah | Noun proper masculine |
| לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה | of Jedaiah | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| נְתַנְאֵֽל׃ | Nethanel | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel. |
| KJV | Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. |
| ASV | of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. |
| YLT | of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. |
| WEB | of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. |
| BBE | Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. |
Where they part company is in the translations of the names, which all agree on their meanings and order.
The sentence is a simple list of names, emphasizing their importance in the genealogical record.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Whedon & 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 12:21
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 Genealogy of the Priestsgenerated
Nehemiah 12:21 lists the names of significant leaders among the Israelites during the post-exilic period. This verse is part of a broader genealogical record that emphasizes the importance of priestly and Levitical lineage in the restoration of the community after the Babylonian exile. It connects the present leaders to their historical roles, ensuring continuity in worship and service to God.
Cross References
The Key Word — חִלְקִיָּה, le.chil.ki.Yahgenerated
The name חִלְקִיָּה (Chilqiyah) is a noun meaning "my portion is Jehovah". It is derived from the roots for "portion" and "Jah," indicating a deep connection to God. Hilkiah served as a high priest during the reign of King Josiah, playing a crucial role in the religious reforms of that time.
The parsing as a proper masculine noun indicates that this name refers to a specific individual within the Israelite community, highlighting his significance in the priestly lineage.
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 the verse is straightforward, listing names in a series. The main clause introduces the names, with each name following a prepositional phrase that indicates their significance.
The order of the names emphasizes their roles, with the prepositions linking them to their respective identities and functions within the Israelite community.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חִלְקִיָּה as ελκια, which maintains the connection to the Hebrew name but does not reflect the full meaning of 'my portion is Jehovah.' This choice may indicate a focus on the individual rather than the theological implications of the name.
For חֲשַׁבְיָה, the translation ασαβιας similarly retains the name but lacks the depth of meaning found in the Hebrew, suggesting a more straightforward identification of the individual.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nehemiah 12:21 lists important leaders among the Israelites: Hilkiah, Hashabiah, Jedaiah, and Nethanel. Each name carries a meaning that reflects their roles and significance in the community, emphasizing their connection to God and their leadership in worship.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Hilkiah was a high priest during the reign of Josiah, known for his role in the religious reforms and the discovery of the Book of the Law.
Hashabiah means 'Jehovah has considered' and was a name given to several Levites in the Bible.
Jedaiah means 'known by Jehovah' and refers to various individuals, including priests during the time of the return from exile.
Nethanel means 'given by God' and refers to several leaders and priests in the Old Testament.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the names listed in this verse about the importance of leadership in the community?
- How do the meanings of these names reflect the relationship between the individuals and God?
- In what ways can we honor our heritage and the roles of those who came before us?
- How does understanding the significance of these leaders influence our view of community and service today?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 12:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOf Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Nehemiah 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12-26) List of representatives of Zerubbabel’s priests in the days of Joiakim; to which is added an account of the Levites in his day. Between these there is an interpolation (Nehemiah 12:22-23).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 12 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleLISTS OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES, Nehemiah 12:1-26.In these verses we have, first, the list of priests and Levites that went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel, 1-9; next follows a genealogy of the high
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
Tyndale line
Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
Vnder Hilkiah, Hashabiah, vnder Iedaiah, Nethaneel.
Strictly literal
of Hilkijah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
Of Chilkiyah, Chashabyah; of Jeda'yah, Nethanel.
Hashabiah was the leader of Hilkiah, and Nethanel was the leader of Jedaiah.
From the Latin
Of Helcias, Hasebia: of Idaia, Nathanael.
Simplified
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
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 and the Septuagint agree on the names listed in this verse, with all four names matching in order. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of these key figures in the Israelite community.
לְחִלְקִיָּ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה נְתַנְאֵֽל׃
4 of the 4 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 12:21
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.
חִלְקִיָּהוּ (Chilqiyah) means "my portion is Jehovah" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, particularly during the Divided Monarchy. Notably, it includes a high priest in Josiah's reign and the father of the prophet Jeremiah. The name is derived from the roots for "portion" and "Jah," indicating a connection to God.
חִלְקִיָּהוּ, חִלְקִיָּה n.pr.m. (my portion is י׳)
father of Eliakim, Hezekiah’s officer
high priest, Josiah’s time
father of Jerem.
Levites
a priest, contemp. of Ezra
father of Gemariah, an ambassador of Zedekiah to Nebuchadrezzar
base
H2518 חִלְקִיָּהוּ, חִלְקִיָּה (my portion is י׳)
2518 Chilqiyah khil-kee-yaw'
or Chilqiyahuw {khil-kee-yaw'-hoo}'from 2506 and 3050;
portion of Jah; {Chilhijah, the name of eight Israelites:--
Hillkiah.
see HEBREW for 02506
see HEBREW for 03050
חִלְקִיָּהוּ (chil.qiy.yah) — Hilkiah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18;
father of: Eliakim (H0471)
§ Hilkiah = "my portion is Jehovah"
1) father of Eliakim, an officer of Hezekiah
2) high priest in the reign of Josiah
3) a Merarite Levite, son of Amzi
4) another Merarite Levite, 2nd son of Hosah
5) one of those who stood on the right of Ezra when he read the law and probably a Levite and a priest
6) a priest of Anathoth, father of the prophet Jeremiah
7) father of Gemariah who was one of Zedekiah's envoys to Babylon
חִלְקִיָּהוּ (chil.qiy.yah) — Hilkiah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.22.4;
son of: Shallum (H7967L);
father of: Azariah (H5838L) and Gemariah (H1587)
§ Hilkiah = "my portion is Jehovah"
1) father of Eliakim, an officer of Hezekiah
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
hil-ki'-a (chilqiyah, "Yah is my portion" or "Yah's portion"): The name of 8 individuals in the Old Testament or 7, if the person mentioned in Ne 12:7,21 was the same who stood with Ezra at the reading of the Law (Ne 8:4). The latter appears as Ezecias (the King James Version) in 1 Esdras 9:43. Five of this name are clearly associated with the priesthood, and the others are presumably so. The etymology suggests this. Either interpretation of the name expresses the person's claim on Yahweh or the parents' recognition of Yahweh's claim on him.
(1) The person mentioned above (Ne 8:4, etc.).
(2) A Levite of the sons of Merari (1Ch 6:45).
Hilkiah
Portion of Jehovah. (1.) 1 Chr. 6:54. (2.) 1 Chr. 26:11. (3.) The father of Eliakim (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37). (4.) The father of Gemariah (Jer. 29:3). (5.) The father of the prophet Jeremiah (1:1).
(6.) The high priest in the reign of Josiah (1 Chr. 6:13; Ezra 7:1). To him and his deputy (2 Kings 23:5), along with the ordinary priests and the Levites who had charge of the gates, was entrusted the purification of the temple in Jerusalem. While this was in progress, he discovered in some hidden corner of the…
(God is my portion) Father of Eliakim. (2 Kings 18:37; Isaiah 22:20; 36:22) [ELIAKIM] High priest in the reign of Josiah. (2 Kings 22:4) seq. 2Chr 34:9 Seq.; 1 Esd. 1:8. (B.C. 623.) His high priesthood was rendered particularly illustrious by the great reformation effected under it by King Josiah, by the solemn Passover kept at Jerusalem in the 18th year of that king’s reign, and above all by the discovery which he made of the book of the law of Moses in the temple. A Merarite Levite, son of Amzi (1 Chronicles 6:45) hebr. 30. Another Merarite Levite, second son of Hosah. (1 Chronicles 26:11) One of those who stood on…
The Hebrew word חֲשַׁבְיָהוּ (*Chashabyah*) means 'Jehovah has regarded' and refers to a name associated with several Levites in the Old Testament. It is built from roots meaning 'to consider' and the divine name. The entries highlight various individuals named Hashabiah, including musicians and leaders during different periods, such as the time of David and the return from Babylon.
חֲשַׁבְיָ֫הוּ, חֲשַׁבְיָה n.pr.m. (Yah(u) has taken account)
a temple musician
a Levite, David’s time
a Levite, Josiah’s time
Levite in line of Merari
Levite
Levite, Ezra’s time
head of a family of priests
a builder of the wall
base
H2811 חֲשַׁבְיָהוּ, חֲשַׁבְיָה
2811 Chashabyah khash-ab-yaw'
or Chashabyahuw {khash-ab-yaw'-hoo}; from 2803 and 3050; Jah
has regarded; Chashabjah, the name of nine
Israelites:--Hashabiah.
see HEBREW for 02803
see HEBREW for 03050
חֲשַׁבְיָ֫הוּ (cha.shav.yah) — Hashabiah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.6.45;
son of: Amaziah (H0558I);
father of: Malluch (H4409)
§ Hashabiah = "Jehovah has considered"
1) a Merarite Levite
2) the 4th of the 6 sons of Jeduthun who had charge of the 12th course
3) one of the descendants of Hebron the son of Kohath
4) the son of Kemuel, who was prince of the tribe of Levi in the time of David
5) a Levite, one of the chiefs of his tribe who officiated for Josiah at his great passover feast
6) a Merarite Levite, one of the chief priests who accompanied Ezra from Babylon; ruler of half the circuit of Keilah and one who repaired a portion of the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. He sealed the covenant of reformation after the return from captivity
7) a Levite, son of Bunni in the time of Nehemiah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
hash-a-bi'-a (chashabhyah):
(1) Two Levites of the family of Merari (1Ch 6:45; 9:14).
(2) A Levite who dwelt in Jerusalem at the time of Nehemiah (Ne 11:15).
(3) A son of Jeduthun (1Ch 25:3).
(4) A Hebronite, chief of a clan of warriors who had charge of West Jordan in the interests of Yahweh and the king of Israel (1Ch 26:30).
Hashabiah
Regarded by Jehovah. (1.) Merarite Levite (1 Chr. 6:45; 9:14). (2.) A son of Jeduthun (25:3, 19). (3.) Son of Kemuel (26:30). (4.) One of the chief Levites (2 Chr. 35:9). (5.) A Levite (Neh. 11:22). (6.) One of the chief priests in the time of Ezra (Ezra 8:24). (7.) A chief of the Levites (Neh. 12:24). (8.) Ezra 8:19. (9.) Neh. 3:17.
(whom God regards). A Merarite Levite. (1 Chronicles 6:45) Another Merarite Levite. (1 Chronicles 9:14) The fourth of the six sons of Jeduthun, (1 Chronicles 25:3) who had charge of the twelfth course. ver. 19. (B.C. 1014.) One of the descendants of Hebron the son of Kohath- (1 Chronicles 26:30) The son of Kemuel, who was prince of the tribe of Levi in the time of David (1 Chronicles 27:17) (B.C. 1014.) A Levite one of the "chiefs" of his tribe, who officiated for King Josiah at his great Passover feast. (2 Chronicles 35:9) (B.C. 623). A Merarite Levite who…
the estimation of the Lord
יְדַעְיָה (Yedaiah) means "Jehovah has known" and refers to a name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, particularly priests. The name is derived from the roots for 'know' and 'Jah' (a form of Jehovah). It is linked to multiple figures, including a priest in Jerusalem and a man who returned with Zerubbabel, as noted in various passages.
יְדַעְיָה n.pr.m. priestly name
base
H3048 יְדַעְיָה
3048 Ykda`yah yed-ah-yaw'
from 3045 and 3050; Jah has known; Jedajah, the name of two
Israelites:--Jedaiah.
see HEBREW for 03045
see HEBREW for 03050
יְדַעְיָה (ye.da.yah) — Jedaiah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.10;
son of: Joiarib (H3114)
§ Jedaiah = "Jehovah has known"
1) a priest in Jerusalem
2) a man who returned with Zerubbabel
3) a ruler of the priests in the days of Jeshua
4) a post exilic priest
5) one honoured by Jehovah, perhaps one of the above
יְדַעְיָה (ye.da.yah) — Jedaiah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.7
§ Jedaiah = "Jehovah has known"
1) a priest in Jerusalem
2) a man who returned with Zerubbabel
3) a ruler of the priests in the days of Jeshua
4) a post exilic priest
5) one honoured by Jehovah, perhaps one of the above
יְדַעְיָה (ye.da.yah) — Jedaiah.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.12.7
§ Jedaiah = "Jehovah has known"
1) a priest in Jerusalem
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Jedaiah
(1.) Invoker of Jehovah. The son of Shimri, a chief Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37).
(2.) One of those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon (Neh. 3:10).
(3.) Knowing Jehovah. The chief of one of the courses of the priests (1 Chr. 24:7).
(4.) A priest in Jerusalem after the Exile (1 Chr. 9:10).
A Simeonite, forefather of Ziza. (1 Chronicles 4:37) Son of Harumaph; a man who did his part in the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 3:10) (B.C. 446.)
the hand of the Lord; confessing the Lord
נְתַנְאֵל (Nethanel) means "given of God" and is derived from the roots for "give" and "God." It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a chief of the tribe of Issachar, the fourth son of Jesse, and various priests and Levites during different periods. Notably, Nethanel appears in contexts related to leadership and priesthood.
נְתַנְאֵל n.pr.m.
a chief of Issachar
4th son of Jesse
name of priests
priest’s son (who had strange wife)
Levite name
a prince of Jehoshaphat
base
H5417 נְתַנְאֵל
5417 Nthane'l neth-an-ale'
from 5414 and 410; given of God; Nethanel, the name of ten
Israelites:--Nethaneel.
see HEBREW for 05414
see HEBREW for 0410
נְתַנְאֵל (ne.tan.el) — Nethanel.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.8;
son of: Zuar (H6686)
§ Nethaneel = "given of God"
1) son of Zuar and a chief of the tribe of Issachar at the exodus
2) the 4th son of Jesse and a brother of David
3) a priest in the reign of David who blew the trumpet before the ark when it was brought from the house of Obed-edom
4) a representative of the priestly family of Jedaiah in the time of Joiakim
5) a priest of the family of Pashur who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
6) a Levite, father of Shemaiah the scribe in the reign of David
7) a Levite, son of Obed-edom
8) a chief of the Levites in the reign of king Josiah of Judah
9) a prince of Judah in the reign of king Jehoshaphat of Judah who was sent by the king to teach in the cities of the kingdom
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
ne-than'-el, neth'-a-nel (nethan'el, "God has given"; Nathanael; the King James Version Nethaneel, ne-than'-e-el):
(1) A chief or prince of Issachar (Nu 1:8; 2:5; 7:18,23; 10:15).
(2) The 4th son of Jesse (1Ch 2:14).
(3) One of the trumpet-blowers before the ark when it was brought up from the house of Obededom (1Ch 15:24).