Nehemiah 13:22
New International Version
Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

New Living Translation
Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to preserve the holiness of the Sabbath. Remember this good deed also, O my God! Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love.

English Standard Version
Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

Berean Standard Bible
Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

King James Bible
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

New King James Version
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!

New American Standard Bible
And I ordered the Levites that they were to purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the Sabbath day. For this also remember me, my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your mercy.

NASB 1995
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

NASB 1977
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Thy lovingkindness.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I said to the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and come as gatekeepers to keep the sabbath day holy. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

Amplified Bible
And I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. O my God, remember me concerning this also and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

Christian Standard Bible
Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the city gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion according to the abundance of your faithful love.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion in keeping with Your abundant, faithful love.

American Standard Version
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And I said to the Levites that they would purify themselves, and the Guards and the Porters were going into hallow the Sabbath, ‘Also remember me, my God, and have pity on me according to the abundance of your mercy!’

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and I told the Levites who were purifying themselves, and came and kept the gates, that they should sanctify the sabbath-day. Remember me, O God, for these things, and spare me according to the abundance of thy mercy.

Contemporary English Version
I ordered the Levites to make themselves holy and to guard the gates on the Sabbath, so that it would be kept holy. God is truly merciful, and I pray that he will treat me with kindness and bless me for doing this.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I spoke also to the Levites that they should be purified, and should come to keep the gates, and to sanctify the sabbath day: for this also remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

English Revised Version
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then I told the Levites to cleanse themselves and guard the gates to keep the day of worship holy. [Nehemiah prayed,] "Remember me also for this, my God, and spare me, since you are very kind."

Good News Translation
I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to go and guard the gates to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy. Remember me, O God, for this also, and spare me because of your great love.

International Standard Version
Then I commanded the descendants of Levi to purify themselves and to come as gate keepers to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, my God, and show mercy to me according to the greatness of your gracious love.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.

Literal Standard Version
And I command to the Levites that they be cleansed, and coming in, keeping the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Also, this, remember for me, O my God, and have pity on me, according to the abundance of Your kindness.

Majority Standard Bible
Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

New American Bible
Then I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to watch the gates, so that the sabbath day might be kept holy. This, too, remember in my favor, my God, and have mercy on me in accordance with your great mercy!

NET Bible
Then I directed the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. For this please remember me, O my God, and have pity on me in keeping with your great love.

New Revised Standard Version
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

New Heart English Bible
I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

World English Bible
I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me for this also, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.

Young's Literal Translation
And I say to the Levites, that they be cleansed, and, coming in, keeping the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day. Also, this, remember for me, O my God, and have pity on me, according to the abundance of Thy kindness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sabbath Restored
21but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath. 22Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

Cross References
2 Kings 20:3
"Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

1 Chronicles 15:12
And he said to them, "You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

Nehemiah 5:19
Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 12:30
After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

Nehemiah 13:14
Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.

Nehemiah 13:31
I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.


Treasury of Scripture

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

I commanded.

Nehemiah 7:64,65
These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood…

Nehemiah 12:30
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

2 Kings 23:4
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.

cleanse.

Nehemiah 12:10
And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

sanctify.

Deuteronomy 5:12
Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

Remember.

Nehemiah 13:14,31
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof…

Nehemiah 5:19
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Psalm 132:1-5
A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: …

spare me.

Psalm 25:6,7
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old…

Psalm 51:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 130:3,4,7
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? …

greatness.

Psalm 5:7
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Cleanse Commanded Compassion Gatekeepers Gates Greatness Kindness Levites Mercy Purify Remember Sabbath Sanctify Spare Themselves
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Cleanse Commanded Compassion Gatekeepers Gates Greatness Kindness Levites Mercy Purify Remember Sabbath Sanctify Spare Themselves
Nehemiah 13
1. Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.
4. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.
10. He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15. the violation of the Sabbath;
23. and the marriages with the strange wives.














(22) Cleanse themselves.--As for a sacred duty, not without reference to their past neglect, which required to be forgiven. This was a high tribute to the Sabbath ordinance, and as such in harmony with all the details of this episode.

Remember me.--In this prayer also Nehemiah commits his fidelity to the merciful estimate of God. But something in connection with the Sabbath, or with his retrospect of his own conduct, gives the passing prayer a peculiar pathos of humility.

Verse 22. - And I commanded the Levites... that they should come and keep the gates. Assigning the duty to his servants was probably a temporary arrangement. The permanent charge was committed to the Levites, who had been intrusted with the duty when the gates were first set up (Nehemiah 7:1). They were to "cleanse," or purify, themselves, because the charge was considered a sacred one. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also. Compare ver. 14. And spare me. It is worthy of notice that Nehemiah does not regard his good deeds as sufficient for his justification, but throws himself unreservedly on God's mercy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I instructed
וָאֹמְרָ֣ה (wā·’ō·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the Levites
לַלְוִיִּ֗ם (lal·wî·yim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

to purify themselves
מִֽטַּהֲרִים֙ (miṭ·ṭa·hă·rîm)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2891: To be clean or pure

and guard
שֹׁמְרִ֣ים (šō·mə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the gates
הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים (haš·šə·‘ā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

in order to keep the Sabbath
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

day
י֣וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

holy.
לְקַדֵּ֖שׁ (lə·qad·dêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

Remember
זָכְרָה־ (zā·ḵə·rāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

me for this
זֹאת֙ (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

as well,
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

O my God,
אֱלֹהַ֔י (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

and {show} me
עָלַ֖י (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

mercy
וְח֥וּסָה (wə·ḥū·sāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2347: To pity, look upon with compassion

according to Your abundant
כְּרֹ֥ב (kə·rōḇ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

loving devotion.
חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ (ḥas·de·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty


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OT History: Nehemiah 13:22 I commanded the Levites that they should (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 13:21
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