Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

NEHEMIAH 12:29KJV
Know the Bible

Nehemiah 12:29 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 12:29 mean?

Nehemiah 12:29 describes how singers who served in the temple had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem, coming from places like Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. The verse highlights that these singers lived nearby so they could regularly participate in worship at the temple.

At this point in the book of Nehemiah, the people of Jerusalem are celebrating the dedication of the rebuilt city wall. The verse lists specific locations—Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth—showing the wide area from which the singers came. The singers’ decision to build villages near Jerusalem underlines their commitment to their temple duties and the importance of organized worship in the restored community.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 12:29

  • "singers" (שָׁרַר, shārar): This word refers to those who led music and singing in temple worship. Their presence was essential for the ceremonies and celebrations described in Nehemiah.
  • "builded" (בָּנָה, bānāh): This verb means to build or establish. The singers actively constructed their own villages, showing intentional effort to be close to Jerusalem for their service.
  • "villages" (חָצֵר, ḥāṣēr): This word means small settlements or hamlets, not large towns. It suggests the singers formed tight-knit communities dedicated to their specific role.
  • "about" (סָבִיב, sāvīv): This means "around" or "surrounding," clarifying that these villages were not inside Jerusalem but in the area nearby, making daily travel to the temple possible.

Why Nehemiah 12:29 matters

  • Nehemiah 12:29 clarifies that temple service was not just for those living inside Jerusalem; people from surrounding areas were deeply involved and made sacrifices to participate.
  • The verse emphasizes the organization and dedication of the Levites and singers, who arranged their lives around their responsibilities in worship.
  • This detail connects to the broader theme in Nehemiah of rebuilding not just physical walls but also the spiritual and communal life of Israel, showing how worship was central to the restored community.

Where else these words appear

“Azmaveth” Hebrew H5820 · used in 8 verses

  • 2 Samuel 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
  • 1 Chronicles 9:42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
  • 1 Chronicles 12:3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,

“Geba” Hebrew H1387 · used in 19 verses

  • Joshua 18:24 And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
  • 1 Samuel 14:5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

“Gilgal” Hebrew H1537 · used in 39 verses

  • Deuteronomy 11:30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
  • Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
  • 1 Samuel 15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

“singers” Hebrew H7891 · used in 79 verses

  • Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
  • Ezra 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
  • Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.