And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

NEHEMIAH 13:31KJV
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Nehemiah 13:31 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 13:31 mean?

Nehemiah 13:31 describes Nehemiah’s efforts to organize and maintain the regular offerings of wood and firstfruits at set times, ending with a personal prayer asking God to remember him for good. Nehemiah is making sure that the temple worship is properly supplied and then appeals to God to look kindly on his faithful work.

Nehemiah himself is speaking, recording how he arranged for the wood offering and the offering of firstfruits to be brought at specific, appointed times. This verse comes at the end of Nehemiah’s reforms, where he worked to restore proper worship and order among the returned exiles in Jerusalem. The verse closes with Nehemiah’s heartfelt request that God would remember his efforts favorably.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 13:31

  • "wood" (עֵץ, ‘ets): This word refers to the wood needed for burning offerings on the altar. Nehemiah’s mention of organizing the wood shows attention to practical details of worship that could easily be overlooked.
  • "offering" (קָרְבָּן, qorban): This word means something brought near or offered, highlighting the idea of drawing close to God through these gifts.
  • "times" (עֵת, ‘et) and "appointed" (מוֹעֵד, mo‘ed): These words together emphasize that the offerings were not random but scheduled at specific, set times, showing order and regularity in worship.
  • "firstfruits" (בִּכּוּרִים, bikkurim): This refers to the first part of the harvest, given to God as an act of gratitude and trust.
  • "Remember" (זָכַר, zakar): Nehemiah’s prayer uses a word that often means more than just recalling; it can mean to act on someone’s behalf in kindness.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The common Hebrew word for God, emphasizing His power and authority.
  • "good" (טוֹב, tov): Nehemiah asks God to remember him "for good," meaning with favor or blessing.

Why Nehemiah 13:31 matters

  • Nehemiah 13:31 shows that faithful leadership includes attention to both spiritual and practical needs, such as ensuring supplies for worship.
  • The verse highlights Nehemiah’s humility and dependence on God, as he ends his work with a simple, personal prayer rather than boasting.
  • This verse connects to the broader theme of Nehemiah’s reforms, showing his commitment to restoring proper worship and community life after the exile.

Where else these words appear

“appointed” Hebrew H2163 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 10:14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
  • Nehemiah 10:34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:

“firstfruits” Hebrew H1061 · used in 16 verses

  • Exodus 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
  • Leviticus 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
  • 2 Kings 4:42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

“offering” Hebrew H7133 · used in 78 verses

  • Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
  • Leviticus 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
  • Numbers 7:37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: