Nehemiah 10:37 Meaning and Explanation
“And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people pledge their first dough, produce, wine, and oil to the priests, and the tithe of their land to the Levites.
What Does Nehemiah 10:37 Mean?
The covenant grows specific about provision for those who served at the temple. The people would bring the first of their dough, produce, wine, and oil to the priests' storerooms, and would give the tithe of their land to the Levites, even in the outlying towns where the Levites lived.
The Levites owned no farmland of their own, being set apart for God's service, so the people's tithes were their livelihood. To support them was to keep worship and teaching alive in the land. A community that cares for those who minister to it ensures that the knowledge of God does not fade from among the people.
Nehemiah 10:37 in the Original Language
maaser (מַעֲשֵׂר), 'tithe' -- a tenth of one's produce given to support those devoted to God's service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 10:37
What does Nehemiah 10:37 mean?
The people pledge their first dough, produce, wine, and oil to the priests, and the tithe of their land to the Levites.