And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

NEHEMIAH 11:16KJV
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Nehemiah 11:16 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 11:16 mean?

Nehemiah 11:16 identifies two Levite leaders, Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were responsible for work connected with God’s house. Their assignment concerned business described as “outward,” pointing to duties beyond the house’s inner activities.

The verse appears in a list of people living in Jerusalem. Its brief description gives these two men a particular responsibility among the Levites, a group set apart for duties associated with worship.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 11:16

  • “outward” — חִיצוֹן (ḥitson): This word means “outer” or “outside.” Here it distinguishes their work from duties carried out inside God’s house.
  • “business” — מְלָאכָה (melakhah): This word refers to work or a task. “Business” here means an assigned area of work, not necessarily buying and selling.

Why Nehemiah 11:16 matters

  • The two men held leadership roles, not merely individual assignments. The verse calls them “of the chief of the Levites” and says they had “the oversight.”
  • Work associated with God’s house included different kinds of responsibility. The phrase “outward business” marks out one area of that work, without identifying every task it involved.

Where else these words appear

“Shabbethai” Hebrew H7678 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
  • Nehemiah 8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

“Jozabad” Hebrew H3107 · used in 9 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 12:4 And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
  • 2 Chronicles 31:13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
  • Ezra 10:22 And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

“outward” Hebrew H2435 · used in 24 verses

  • 1 Kings 6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
  • Ezekiel 40:17 Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
  • Ezekiel 42:7 And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.

“business” Hebrew H4399 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
  • 2 Chronicles 24:12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.