For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

NEHEMIAH 12:46KJV
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Nehemiah 12:46 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 12:46 mean?

Nehemiah 12:46 recalls that during the days of King David and Asaph, there were leaders among the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving were regularly offered to God. The verse points back to an earlier tradition of organized worship through music, highlighting its importance in Israel’s history.

This verse is part of a section where Nehemiah describes the restoration of worship in Jerusalem after the return from exile. The mention of David and Asaph connects the current practices to respected figures from Israel’s past, showing continuity and honoring the way worship was led and structured in earlier generations.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 12:46

  • "Chief" (רֹאשׁ, rosh): This word often means "head" or "leader." Here, it refers to those who were in charge of the singers, emphasizing that musical worship was organized and had recognized leadership.
  • "Singers" (שָׁרַר, shayar): This word means those who sing, specifically in the context of temple worship. The verse highlights that singing was a formal, valued part of Israel’s worship life.
  • "Praise" (תְּהִלָּה, tehillah) and "Thanksgiving" (יָדָה, yadah): These words point to the kinds of songs offered—both celebrating God’s greatness and expressing gratitude. The use of both terms shows that worship involved both joy and thankfulness.

Why Nehemiah 12:46 matters

  • Nehemiah 12:46 clarifies that the musical worship practices being restored were not new inventions but rooted in the time of David and Asaph, lending authority and tradition to what the people were doing.
  • The verse emphasizes the importance of organized, communal worship, not just individual praise, by mentioning leaders and structured songs.
  • By connecting the present to the past, Nehemiah encourages the returned exiles to see themselves as part of a long, faithful story of worship, helping them reclaim their identity after years of disruption.

Where else these words appear

“Asaph” Hebrew H623 · used in 41 verses

  • 2 Kings 18:18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:1 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
  • Psalms 50:1 A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

“praise” Hebrew H8416 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • Psalms 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
  • Isaiah 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

“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.

“old” Hebrew H6924 · used in 83 verses

  • Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
  • Joshua 18:20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
  • Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.