The verse shows the Israelites’ pledge to faithfully supply the temple so it would thrive as the center of worship and service to God.
Nehemiah 10:39 version reads: For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God. (v.39)
In this passage, Nehemiah explains that all Israelites, including the Levites, are commanded to supply the temple and its servants with the necessary resources. He specifically mentions that the people are to bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers, which indicates that these gifts were held in designated storerooms near the temple (the “house of our God”). These items would be given to the priests, who oversaw temple worship, along with the gatekeepers and the singers. In ancient Israel, the Levites and priests did not receive land like the other tribes (Numbers 18:21-24); instead, they were supported by the tithe (ten percent of agricultural and other produce). Nehemiah, serving during the Persian period of the mid-to-late 5th century BC, urged the people to return to proper covenant observance by contributing these resources so that the temple and those who served God there would not be neglected. The phrase Thus we will not neglect the house of our God underscores the people’s renewed commitment to caring for God’s dwelling place and those who ministered there.
Historically, Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem around 445 BC. During his time, he led a project to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 2:17-18) and to restore the covenant faith of the Jewish people after their exile in Babylon. As governor in Jerusalem, he discovered that portions due to the Levites and priests had ceased, causing them to abandon their temple functions to farm for themselves (Nehemiah 13:10). This neglect threatened to disrupt worship life in Jerusalem. Therefore, Nehemiah reinstituted the practice of bringing firstfruits and tithes of crops. These provisions also allowed the gatekeepers and singers to fulfill their duties in the temple complex. Jerusalem lies in the region of Judea, with terrain consisting of hills and valleys well-suited to grain, wine, and oil, which were the staple offerings in ancient Israel’s agrarian society.
Spiritually, this commitment to bring in contributions symbolized giving back to the LORD, recognizing Him as Provider. The priests serving in these chambers foreshadow the greater priestly ministry of Christ. In the New Testament, believers are called “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), so caring for spiritual obligations and worship is still paramount. In the spirit of Nehemiah’s day, we must avoid neglecting the work of God in our modern context.
When the people say, Thus we will not neglect the house of our God, it demonstrates how covenant faithfulness and community responsibility intertwine. This mirrors instructions elsewhere to present tithes and offerings so that those entrusted to minister on behalf of the LORD could devote themselves fully to God’s service (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Numbers 18:21-24). It also shows the unity of the people in worship, generously providing resources for temple activities out of gratitude.
We remain called to honor God with our resources, ensuring faithfulness to Him in all we do. In supporting our local places of worship and those who minister, we demonstrate reliance on God’s sustaining power, just as the Israelites’ giving of grain, wine, and oil displayed their continual devotion despite their own limited means.
We must stay faithful so that the work of the kingdom flourishes. Nehemiah 10:39 encourages readers to bring their “grain, wine, and oil” to God’s house, trusting that He is the ultimate source of provision and worthy of our devotion.
We should be mindful that in every generation, God desires us to lift our hearts and resources to Him, showing commitment like Nehemiah’s generation did when they renewed their covenant and refused to neglect “the house of our God.”
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Nehemiah 10:39 meaning
Nehemiah 10:39 version reads: For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God. (v.39)
In this passage, Nehemiah explains that all Israelites, including the Levites, are commanded to supply the temple and its servants with the necessary resources. He specifically mentions that the people are to bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers, which indicates that these gifts were held in designated storerooms near the temple (the “house of our God”). These items would be given to the priests, who oversaw temple worship, along with the gatekeepers and the singers. In ancient Israel, the Levites and priests did not receive land like the other tribes (Numbers 18:21-24); instead, they were supported by the tithe (ten percent of agricultural and other produce). Nehemiah, serving during the Persian period of the mid-to-late 5th century BC, urged the people to return to proper covenant observance by contributing these resources so that the temple and those who served God there would not be neglected. The phrase Thus we will not neglect the house of our God underscores the people’s renewed commitment to caring for God’s dwelling place and those who ministered there.
Historically, Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem around 445 BC. During his time, he led a project to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 2:17-18) and to restore the covenant faith of the Jewish people after their exile in Babylon. As governor in Jerusalem, he discovered that portions due to the Levites and priests had ceased, causing them to abandon their temple functions to farm for themselves (Nehemiah 13:10). This neglect threatened to disrupt worship life in Jerusalem. Therefore, Nehemiah reinstituted the practice of bringing firstfruits and tithes of crops. These provisions also allowed the gatekeepers and singers to fulfill their duties in the temple complex. Jerusalem lies in the region of Judea, with terrain consisting of hills and valleys well-suited to grain, wine, and oil, which were the staple offerings in ancient Israel’s agrarian society.
Spiritually, this commitment to bring in contributions symbolized giving back to the LORD, recognizing Him as Provider. The priests serving in these chambers foreshadow the greater priestly ministry of Christ. In the New Testament, believers are called “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), so caring for spiritual obligations and worship is still paramount. In the spirit of Nehemiah’s day, we must avoid neglecting the work of God in our modern context.
When the people say, Thus we will not neglect the house of our God, it demonstrates how covenant faithfulness and community responsibility intertwine. This mirrors instructions elsewhere to present tithes and offerings so that those entrusted to minister on behalf of the LORD could devote themselves fully to God’s service (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Numbers 18:21-24). It also shows the unity of the people in worship, generously providing resources for temple activities out of gratitude.
We remain called to honor God with our resources, ensuring faithfulness to Him in all we do. In supporting our local places of worship and those who minister, we demonstrate reliance on God’s sustaining power, just as the Israelites’ giving of grain, wine, and oil displayed their continual devotion despite their own limited means.
We must stay faithful so that the work of the kingdom flourishes. Nehemiah 10:39 encourages readers to bring their “grain, wine, and oil” to God’s house, trusting that He is the ultimate source of provision and worthy of our devotion.
We should be mindful that in every generation, God desires us to lift our hearts and resources to Him, showing commitment like Nehemiah’s generation did when they renewed their covenant and refused to neglect “the house of our God.”