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.

NEHEMIAH 10:38KJV
Know the Bible

Nehemiah 10:38 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 10:38 mean?

Nehemiah 10:38 describes how a priest from the family of Aaron was to accompany the Levites when they collected tithes from the people, and then the Levites themselves were responsible for bringing a portion of those tithes—the “tithe of the tithes”—to God’s house, specifically into the storerooms used for temple treasures. This verse sets out a clear system for handling offerings, ensuring both accountability and proper support for temple service.

In the context of Nehemiah, the leaders and people of Israel are renewing their commitment to God’s law after returning from exile. This verse records part of a public agreement about how temple duties and offerings should be managed. The mention of the priest (from Aaron’s line) and the Levites highlights the cooperation between different groups responsible for worship, and the process helps keep the temple supplied and the system transparent.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 10:38

  • “priest” (כֹּהֵן, kohen): This word refers specifically to a priest from Aaron’s family, not just any religious leader, emphasizing the importance of lineage and proper authority in temple matters.
  • “Levites” (לֵוִי, levi): The Levites were a tribe set apart for assisting in temple service, but not all Levites were priests. Their distinct role is highlighted by their responsibility to collect tithes from the people.
  • “tithe” (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma‘aser): This word means a tenth part, and here it refers to the portion of produce or goods given for the support of the temple and its workers. The “tithe of the tithes” means the Levites, after receiving tithes, also give a tenth of what they received.
  • “house” (בַּיִת, bayit): This refers to the temple, called “the house of our God,” showing the central place of worship in the community’s life.

Why Nehemiah 10:38 matters

  • Nehemiah 10:38 clarifies the chain of responsibility for temple offerings, showing that even those who serve in the temple are accountable to give from what they receive.
  • The verse highlights cooperation and transparency, with both priests and Levites involved in the process, which helped prevent misuse or neglect of temple resources.
  • This arrangement connects to the larger theme in Nehemiah of restoring proper worship and community order after exile, emphasizing faithfulness to God’s instructions.

Where else these words appear

“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.

“tithe” 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 10:37 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.

“chambers” Hebrew H3957 · used in 41 verses

  • 1 Samuel 9:22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
  • Nehemiah 13:8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
  • Ezekiel 41:10 And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.

“treasure” Hebrew H214 · used in 70 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
  • Isaiah 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: