Nehemiah 12:14 — Word Study
WLCלִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙ יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן לִשְׁבַנְיָ֖ה יוֹסֵֽף׃
BSAof MalluchiMallûwk [Melicu, a priestly clan] JonathanYôwnâthân [Jehovah has given] of ShebaniahShᵉbanyâh [a Levite and priest, descended from Sebanya] JosephYôwçêph [Jehovah has added, a name of blessing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙ | of Mellichu | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן | Jonathan | Noun proper masculine |
| לִשְׁבַנְיָ֖ה | of Shebaniah | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| יוֹסֵֽף׃ | Joseph | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; |
| KJV | Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; |
| ASV | of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; |
| YLT | of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; |
| WEB | of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; |
| BBE | Of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; |
All translations agree on the names listed: Malluchi, Jonathan; Shebaniah, Joseph.
The structure is straightforward, listing names in a genealogical format.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & 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 12:14
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 12:14 is part of a genealogical list that highlights the names of priests and Levites who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This restoration was crucial for re-establishing worship and community in the city, as the exiles sought to rebuild their lives and their temple.
Cross References
The Key Word — מַלּוּךְ, mallukhgenerated
The name מַלּוּךְ (mallukh) refers to a priestly figure associated with the return from exile. The name is derived from a root meaning 'counsellor', indicating a role of guidance and leadership within the priestly community.
Malluch is mentioned in the context of the return from Babylon, emphasizing his importance in the restoration of the Jewish community and worship practices in Jerusalem.
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 verse consists of a series of noun phrases connected by prepositional phrases, indicating the lineage and roles of the individuals mentioned. The structure is straightforward, listing each name with its corresponding title.
The finite elements indicate a genealogical record, which is typical in historical accounts, emphasizing the importance of ancestry and roles in the community.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מַלּוּךְ as μαλουξ, maintaining the name's identity while adapting it to Greek phonetics. This shows continuity in the recognition of these figures across cultures.
The choice of μαλουξ does not alter the meaning but reflects the effort to preserve the names of significant leaders in the Jewish community.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nehemiah 12:14 lists the names of Malluchi, Jonathan; Shebaniah, Joseph, who were priests and Levites returning to Jerusalem after the exile. Their names are part of a record that emphasizes the restoration of worship and community in the city.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Malluchi and Shebaniah were priests and Levites who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, playing key roles in the restoration of the Jewish community.
The names reflect the heritage and roles of individuals who contributed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple, highlighting their importance in the community.
Genealogy establishes the legitimacy of the returning community and their roles in the priesthood and worship, reinforcing their identity as the people of God.
The name Jonathan means 'Jehovah has given' and is associated with several significant figures in the Old Testament, including a close friend of David.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What role do you think genealogies play in understanding the history of a community?
- How can the names of individuals in the Bible inspire us in our own communities today?
- In what ways can we honor our heritage while building a future?
- What lessons can we learn from the returning exiles about resilience and restoration?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 12:14 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(14) Melicu is the “Malluch” of Nehemiah 12:2, and Hattush is omitted. Other anomalies of this kind may be noticed, of which no account can now be given.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. Melicu] R.V. Malluchi. Marg. ‘Another reading is, Melicu’. The K’thib gives Malluchi; the Q’ri Melicu. The LXX. reads Μαλούχ, the Vulgate ‘Milico.’
Read Cambridge 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 Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Malluch, Jonathan; of Shecaniah, Joseph;
Tyndale line
Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
Vnder Melicu, Ionathan, vnder Shebaniah, Ioseph,
Strictly literal
of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
Of Mellchu, Jonathan; of Shebanyah, Joseph;
Jonathan was the leader of Malluk, and Joseph was the leader of Shebaniah.
From the Latin
Of Milicho, Jonathan: of Sebenia, Joseph:
Simplified
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
Of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
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
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the names listed in this verse, with no variations noted. This consistency underscores the importance of these individuals in the historical narrative of Israel's return.
לִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙ יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן לִשְׁבַנְיָ֖ה יוֹסֵֽף׃
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 12:14
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.
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.
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
יוֹנָתָן (Yownathan) is a Hebrew name meaning 'Jehovah has given.' It refers primarily to Jonathan, the son of King Saul and a close friend of David, but also to several other figures in the Old Testament, including priests and warriors. The entries highlight various individuals named Jonathan, with mentions in books like 1 Chronicles and Ezra.
יְהוֹנָתָן, יוֹנָתָן n.pr.m. (י׳ hath given)
son of Saul
son of Abiathar
nephew of David
of David, i.e. his uncle?
one of David’s heroes
one of David’s treasurers
a scribe
Levites
a priest
priest to the tribe of Dan, son of Gershom
a Judaite captain, after fall of Jerus.
a Judaite
father of Ebed
son of Asahel
a priest
son of Joiada
base
H3129 יְהוֹנָתָן, יוֹנָתָן
3129 Yownathan yo-naw-thawn'
a form of 3083; Jonathan, the name of ten
Israelites:--Jonathan.
see HEBREW for 03083
יוֹנָתָן (yo.na.tan) — Jonathan.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.2.32;
son of: Jada (H3047);
brother of: Jether (H3500I);
father of: Peleth (H6431H) and Zaza (H2117)
§ Jonathan or Jehonathan = "Jehovah has given"
1) a son of king Saul and a friend of David
2) a son of the high priest Abiathar and the last descendant of Eli of whom we hear
3) one of David's mighty warriors
4) a Levite and father of Zechariah, a priest who blew the trumpet at the dedication of the wall
5) a son of Kareah and a brother of Johanan; a Judaite captain after the fall of Jerusalem
6) another Judaite
7) father of Ebed in the time of Ezra
8) son of Asahel in the time of Ezra
9) a priest of the family of Melicu in the time of Nehemiah
10) son of Joiada and his successor to the high priesthood in the time of Nehemiah
יוֹנָתָן (yo.na.tan) — Jonathan.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Jonathan
Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1.) A Levite descended from Gershom (Judg. 18:30). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30. The Rabbins changed this name into Manasseh “to screen the memory of the great lawgiver from the stain of having so unworthy an apostate among his near descendants.” He became priest of the idol image at Dan, and this office continued in his family till the Captivity.
(2.) The eldest son of king Saul, and the bosom friend of David. He is first mentioned when he was about thirty years of age, some time after his father’s accession to the throne (1 Sam. 13:2). Like his father, he was a man of great strength and activity (
that is, "the gift of Jehovah, " the eldest son of King Saul. (B.C. about 1095-1056.) He was a man of great strength and activity. (2 Samuel 1:23) He was also famous as a warrior, (1 Chronicles 12:2) as is shown by the courage he showing in attacking the garrison of the Philistines, in company with is armor-bearer only, slaying twenty men and putting an army to flight. (1 Samuel 14:6-16) During the pursuit, Jonathan, who had not heard of the rash curse, ch. (1 Samuel 14:24) which Saul invoked on any one who ate before the evening, tasted the honey which lay on the ground. Saul would have sacrificed him; but the people interposed in behalf of the hero of that great day, and…
1. A Levite, son of Gershom, and grandson of Moses, who after the death of Joshua impiously served as a priest, first to Micah, and then to the Danites in Laish or Dan, where his posterity succeeded him until the captivity, Jud 17:1-18:31.
2. The eldest son of Saul, and one of the loveliest characters in Old Testament history. The narrative of his brilliant exploit in Michmash, 1Sa 13:1-14:52, illustrates his pious faith, his bravery, (see also 1Sa 13:3) and the favor borne him by the people, who would not suffer him to be put to death in consequence of Saul’s foolish vow. This valiant and generous prince loved David as his own soul, 1Sa 18:1-4 19:2 20:1-42; and though…
given of God
שְׁבַנְיָה (Shbanyah) means "increased by Jehovah" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, particularly Levites and priests associated with the covenant in Nehemiah's time. The name is derived from roots meaning to grow or prosper, specifically linked to the divine name Jah. It appears in contexts related to the Divided Monarchy and the Exile and Return periods.
שְׁבַנְיָה(וּ) n.pr.m.
יָה:
Levites
priest
יָהוּ, priest
base
H7645 שְׁבַנְיָה(וּ), שְׁבַנְיָה, שְׁבַנְיָהוּ
7645 Shbanyah sheb-an-yaw'
or Shbanyahuw {sheb-an-yaw'-hoo}; from the same as 7644 and
3050; Jah has grown (i.e. prospered); Shebanjah, the name of
three or four Israelites:--Shebaniah.
see HEBREW for 07644
see HEBREW for 03050
שְׁבַנְיָהוּ (she.van.yah) — Shebaniah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.15.24
§ Shebaniah = "increased by Jehovah"
1) a Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
2) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
3) a 2nd Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
4) a priest appointed by David to blow with the trumpets before the ark of God
שְׁבַנְיָהוּ (she.van.yah) — Shebaniah.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.9.4
§ Shebaniah = "increased by Jehovah"
1) a Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
2) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
3) a 2nd Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
4) a priest appointed by David to blow with the trumpets before the ark of God
שְׁבַנְיָהוּ (she.van.yah) — Shebaniah.
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Shebaniah
Whom Jehovah hides, or has made grow up. (1.) A Levite appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark of God (1 Chr. 15:24).
(2.) Another Levite (Neh. 9:4, 5).
(3.) A priest (Neh. 10:12).
(4.) A Levite (Neh. 10:4).
(increased by Jehovah). A Levite in the time of Ezra. (Nehemiah 9:4,5) He sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:10) (B.C. 459.) A priest or priestly family who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:4; 12:14) Called SHECHANIAH, SHECHANIAH in (Nehemiah 12:3) Another Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:12) One of the priests appointed by David to blow with the trumpets before the ark of God. (1 Chronicles 15:24) (B.C. 1043.)
the Lord that converts, or recalls from captivity
יוֹסֵף (Yowceph) means 'he adds' or 'increases' and refers primarily to Joseph, the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel. The name appears in various contexts, including other individuals named Joseph, such as a man of Issachar, a son of Asaph, and a priest. The entries highlight his familial relationships and roles during different periods, including the Exile and Return.
יוֹסֵף 212 and יְהוֹסֵף n.pr.m. (he adds, increases)
elder son of Jacob and Rachael
a man of Issachar
a son of Asaph
one of those who took strange wives
a priest
base
H3130 יוֹסֵף and יְהוֹסֵף (he adds, increases) . elder son of Jacob and Rachael
. a man of Issachar
. a son of Asaph
. one of those who took strange wives
. a priest
3130 Yowceph yo-safe'
future of 3254; let him add (or perhaps simply active
participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven
Israelites:--Joseph. Compare 3084.
see HEBREW for 03254
see HEBREW for 03084
יוֹסֵף (yo.seph) — Joseph.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.24;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);
brother of: Benjamin (H1144);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); married to Asenath (H0621);
father of: Manasseh (H4519) and Ephraim (H0669); also called Zaphenath-paneah at Gen.41.45;
§ Joseph = "Jehovah has added"
1) the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel
2) father of Igal, who represented the tribe of Issachar among the spies
3) a son of Asaph
4) a man who took a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
5) a priest of the family of Shebaniah in the time of Nehemiah
יוֹסֵף (yo.seph) — Joseph.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.13.7;
father of: Igal (H3008)
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Joseph
Remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 30:23, 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, “God hath taken away [Heb. ‘asaph] my reproach.” “The Lord shall add [Heb. yoseph] to me another son” (Gen. 30:24). He was a child of probably six years of age when his father returned from Haran to Canaan and took up his residence in the old patriarchal town of Hebron. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age,” and he “made him a long garment with sleeves” (Gen. 37:3, R.V. marg.), i.e., a garment long and full, such as was worn by the children of nobles. This seems to be the correct rendering of the words. The phrase, however, may also be…
(increase). The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was born in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia), probably about B.C. 1746. He is first mentioned when a youth, seventeen years old. Joseph brought the evil report of his brethren to his father, and they hated him because his father loved him more than he did them, and had shown his preference by making a dress which appears to have been a long tunic with sleeves, worn by youths and maidens of the richer class. (Genesis 37:2) He dreamed a dream foreshadowing his future power, which increased the hatred of his brethren. (Genesis 37:5-7) He was sent by his father to visit his brothers, who were tending flocks in the fields of Dothan. They resolved to kill him, but he was saved by Reuben, who persuaded the brothers to cast Joseph into…
1. The son of Jacob and his beloved Rachel, born in Mesopotamia, Ge 30:22-24, B. C. 1747. He is memorable for the wonderful providence of God, which raised him from a prison to be the grandvizier of Egypt, and made him the honored means of saving countless human lives. His history is one of the most pleasing and instructive in the Bible; and is related in language inimitably natural, simple, and touching. It is too beautiful for abridgment, and too familiar to need rehearsal. It throws much light on the superintending providence of God, as embracing all things, great and small in the perpetual unfolding of his universal plan. No narrative in the Bible more strikingly illustrates the protective and elevating power of the fear of God, and its especial value for the young. To behold this lovely image of filial piety and unwavering…
increase; addition