Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

NEHEMIAH 12:18KJV
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Nehemiah 12:18 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 12:18 mean?

Nehemiah 12:18 lists two priestly families and their representatives: Shammua from the family of Bilgah, and Jehonathan from the family of Shemaiah. This verse is part of a larger record identifying the heads of priestly divisions during the time of Nehemiah.

In the context of Nehemiah, these names are part of a detailed listing of priests and Levites who served after the return from Babylonian exile. The book is recounting the organization and restoration of temple worship in Jerusalem, and these records helped preserve the continuity and legitimacy of the priesthood for the Jewish community.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 12:18

  • בִּלְגָּה (Bilgah, transliterated "Bilgah") refers to one of the priestly families. Mentioning Bilgah here connects this list to the ancient priestly divisions established earlier in Israel’s history.
  • שַׁמּוּעַ (Shammua, transliterated "Shammua") is the name of the representative from the family of Bilgah. The name means "heard" or "one who hears," though in this context, it simply identifies the individual.
  • שְׁמַעְיָה (Shemaiah, transliterated "Shemaiah") is another priestly family, with the name meaning "Yahweh has heard." This highlights the tradition of meaningful Hebrew names among the priests.
  • יְהוֹנָתָן (Jehonathan, transliterated "Jehonathan") is the representative from Shemaiah’s family, meaning "Yahweh has given." The use of these names connects the priestly service to faith in God’s actions and presence.

Why Nehemiah 12:18 matters

  • This verse helps establish the legitimacy and continuity of the priestly service after the exile by naming specific families and their leaders, showing careful record-keeping.
  • Listing these names ties the restored community back to its historical roots, emphasizing the importance of tradition and order in worship.
  • Including these details in Nehemiah highlights the value placed on every family’s role in the spiritual life of Israel, showing that each priestly division was accounted for and honored.

Where else these words appear

“Bilgah” Hebrew H1083 · used in 3 verses

“Shammua” Hebrew H8051 · used in 5 verses

  • Numbers 13:4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
  • 2 Samuel 5:14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
  • 1 Chronicles 14:4 Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

“Shemaiah” Hebrew H8098 · used in 39 verses

  • 1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
  • 2 Chronicles 11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
  • Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

“Jehonathan” Hebrew H3083 · used in 73 verses

  • Judges 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
  • 1 Samuel 20:28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
  • 2 Samuel 9:3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.