The Meaning of Nehemiah 10:36 Explained

Nehemiah 10:36

KJV: Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

YLT: and the firstlings of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to bring in to the house of our God, to the priests who are ministering in the house of our God.

Darby: and the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law; and to bring the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests that minister in the house of our God;

ASV: also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Also the firstborn  of our sons,  and of our cattle,  as [it is] written  in the law,  and the firstlings  of our herds  and of our flocks,  to bring  to the house  of our God,  unto the priests  that minister  in the house  of our God: 

What does Nehemiah 10:36 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 10:28-39 - A Pledge Of Better Service
The chapter opens with a list of the signers of the covenant, which was signed on behalf of the people. The consecration covenant involved-first, obedience; then, the purity of the holy seed from intermarriage with heathen peoples; next, the observance of the Sabbath, and of the Sabbatic year. In addition there was the yearly charge for the maintenance of divine worship. The great lack among Christian people is system in the apportioning of their incomes. They leave their giving to impulse, and thus often give the merest fraction of their possessions to the cause of God. We should at least give a tenth, and as much more as we can afford. If only all who read these words would resolve to imitate these impoverished exiles, and to set aside the tithe of all they earn or receive, they would discover the luxury of giving, and a new zest in receiving. The first-fruits of increased wages and revenue should also be given to God, as a tribute of thanksgiving. Let the first produce of hen-roost, orchard, and field be His. Do not neglect or forsake God's house, Nehemiah 10:39. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 10

1  The names of those who sealed the covenant
29  The points of the covenant

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 10:36 mean?

and the firstborn of our sons and our cattle as [it is] written in the Law the firstborn of our herds and our flocks to bring to the house of our God to the priests who minister in the house of our God
וְאֶת־ בְּכֹר֤וֹת בָּנֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּבְהֶמְתֵּ֔ינוּ כַּכָּת֖וּב בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה בְּכוֹרֵ֨י בְקָרֵ֜ינוּ וְצֹאנֵ֗ינוּ לְהָבִיא֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

בְּכֹר֤וֹת  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
בָּנֵ֙ינוּ֙  of  our  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וּבְהֶמְתֵּ֔ינוּ  and  our  cattle 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
כַּכָּת֖וּב  as  [it  is]  written 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה  in  the  Law 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
בְּכוֹרֵ֨י  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
בְקָרֵ֜ינוּ  of  our  herds 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: בָּקָר  
Sense: cattle, herd, oxen, ox.
וְצֹאנֵ֗ינוּ  and  our  flocks 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
לְהָבִיא֙  to  bring 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְבֵ֣ית  to  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ  of  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים  to  the  priests 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים  who  minister 
Parse: Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.
בְּבֵ֥ית  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ  of  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).