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.

NEHEMIAH 10:37KJV
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Nehemiah 10:37 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 10:37 mean?

Nehemiah 10:37 describes the people’s promise to bring the first part of their produce, including dough, offerings, fruit, wine, and oil, to the priests at the temple, and to give a tenth (tithe) of their crops to the Levites in their towns. This verse shows a renewed commitment to support the temple and its workers as part of Israel’s covenant with God.

The verse is part of a public agreement made by the returned exiles in Jerusalem, led by Nehemiah, to carefully follow God’s law after years of neglect. The people are pledging to bring specific portions of their harvest and goods to the temple store rooms, ensuring the priests and Levites—those responsible for worship and temple service—are provided for, as the law of Moses required.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 10:37

  • "Firstfruits" (רֵאשִׁית, rê’shît, H7225) refers to the earliest and best part of the harvest, showing the people’s intent to give God the first and most valuable portion.
  • "Dough" (עֲרִסָּה, ‘arissâ, H6182) means a portion of bread dough, which was to be set aside for the priests, highlighting even everyday food was to be shared with those serving in the temple.
  • "Tithes" (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma‘ăsêr, H4643 and עֲשַׂר, ‘asar, H6237) both refer to giving a tenth, but the repetition emphasizes the regular, organized system of support for the Levites, who did not have land of their own.
  • "Chambers" (לִשְׁכָּה, lishkâ, H3957) means the storage rooms in the temple, showing there was a practical system for collecting and distributing these offerings.

Why Nehemiah 10:37 matters

  • This verse clarifies that supporting the temple and its workers was not just a personal act but a community responsibility, structured and organized.
  • Nehemiah 10:37 connects the people’s daily work—farming, baking, harvesting—to their worship, showing that faithfulness included practical, material commitments.
  • The verse helps explain how the returned exiles were re-establishing their identity and religious life after exile, focusing on obedience and shared responsibility.

Where else these words appear

“dough” Hebrew H6182 · used in 4 verses

  • Numbers 15:20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
  • Numbers 15:21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.
  • Ezekiel 44:30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.

“tithes” Hebrew H6237 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
  • Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
  • 1 Samuel 8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

“oil” Hebrew H3323 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
  • 2 Kings 18:32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.
  • Jeremiah 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

“tithes” Hebrew H4643 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
  • Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
  • Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.