New International Version I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. New Living Translation I led the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall and organized two large choirs to give thanks. One of the choirs proceeded southward along the top of the wall to the Dung Gate. English Standard Version Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate. Berean Standard Bible Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. Berean Literal Bible Then I brought up the leaders of Judah upon the wall, and I made stand two great thanksgiving groups, and one went to the south upon the wall toward the Gate of the Dunghill. King James Bible Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: New King James Version So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. New American Standard Bible Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Dung Gate. NASB 1995 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate. NASB 1977 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate. Legacy Standard Bible Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I had two great choirs of thanksgiving stand, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Dung Gate. Amplified Bible Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large thanksgiving choirs, the first one proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate. Berean Annotated Bible Then I brought the leaders of Judah (praised) up on the wall, and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wall (alongside the wall) to the right, toward the Dung Gate. Christian Standard Bible Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate. American Standard Version Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession; whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: Contemporary English Version I brought the leaders of Judah to the top of the city wall and put them in charge of the two groups that were to march around on top of the wall, singing praises to God. One group marched to the right in the direction of Garbage Gate. English Revised Version Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession; whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: GOD'S WORD® Translation Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I arranged two large choirs to give thanks and march in procession. One choir went to the right on the wall to Dung Gate. Good News Translation I assembled the leaders of Judah on top of the wall and put them in charge of two large groups to march around the city, giving thanks to God. The first group went to the right on top of the wall toward the Rubbish Gate. International Standard Version Then I brought up the leaders of Judah to the crest of the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs, the first of which proceeded on the wall to the right toward the Dung Gate. NET Bible I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on the top of the wall southward toward the Dung Gate. New Heart English Bible Then I brought up the leaders of Judah onto the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the Dung Gate; Webster's Bible Translation Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, of which one went on the right hand upon the wall towards the dung-gate: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. World English Bible Then I brought the princes of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I bring up the heads of Judah on the wall, and appoint two great thanksgiving companies and processions. At the right, on the wall, to the Refuse Gate; Berean Literal Bible Then I brought up the leaders of Judah upon the wall, and I made stand two great thanksgiving groups, and one went to the south upon the wall toward the Gate of the Dunghill. Young's Literal Translation And I bring up the heads of Judah upon the wall, and appoint two great thanksgiving companies and processions. At the right, on the wall, to the dung-gate; Smith's Literal Translation And I shall bring up the chiefs of Judah from above the wall, and I shall cause to stand two great choirs, and to go about to the right hand above to the wall to the gate of the dung-hill: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I made the princes of Juda go up upon the wall, and I appointed two great choirs to give praise. And they went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dunghill gate. Catholic Public Domain Version Then I caused the leaders of Judah to ascend the wall, and I appointed two great choirs to give praise. And they went to the right upon the wall, toward the dung gate. New American Bible I had the administrators of Judah go up on the wall, and I arranged two great choirs. The first of these proceeded to the right, along the top of the wall, in the direction of the Dung Gate, New Revised Standard Version Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession. One went to the right on the wall to the Dung Gate; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen I brought up the chieftains of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies; and they walked upon the wall toward the right of the great gate; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they brought the Rulers of Yehuda up on the wall, and they appointed two great companies, and they walked above on the wall to the right of the Great Gate. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession: on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate; Brenton Septuagint Translation And they brought up the princes of Juda on the wall, and they appointed two great companies for thanksgiving, and they passed on the right hand on the wall of the dung-gate. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Dedication of the Wall…30After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall. 31Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed,… Cross References Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, Nehemiah 4:13 So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. Isaiah 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves, / nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. Nehemiah 2:17-18 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” / I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work. and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. 1 Chronicles 16:7 On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: 1 Chronicles 16:4 David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 5:13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right, Psalm 48:12-13 March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers, / consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation. Joshua 6:3-5 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. / Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. / And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse and all your people will charge straight into the city.” toward the Dung Gate. Nehemiah 2:13 So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire. Nehemiah 3:13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it, installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. Nehemiah 3:14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” / The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. Isaiah 52:8-9 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion. / Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. Ezra 3:10-11 When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed. / And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid. 1 Chronicles 15:16-28 David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals. / So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; / and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. … Psalm 68:24-27 They have seen Your procession, O God—the march of my God and King into the sanctuary. / The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines. / Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel. … Treasury of Scripture Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate: the princes. 1 Chronicles 13:1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 1 Chronicles 28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. two great. Nehemiah 12:38,40 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; … dung gate. Nehemiah 2:13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Nehemiah 3:13,14 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate… Jump to Previous Appointed Choirs Companies Dung Dung-Gate First Gate Great Hand Judah Princes Procession Right Thanks Top Towards Wall WhereofJump to Next Appointed Choirs Companies Dung Dung-Gate First Gate Great Hand Judah Princes Procession Right Thanks Top Towards Wall WhereofNehemiah 12 1. The priests and the Levites which came up with Zerubbabel.10. The succession of high priests. 22. Certain chief Levites. 27. The solemnity of the dedication of the walls. 44. The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple. Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, Nehemiah involved Judah’s leaders in the dedication, joining civic leadership to public worship. Their presence upon the rebuilt wall testified that Jerusalem’s security and restored dignity had come through God’s help. The leaders bore responsibility not only for governing the people but also for preserving the covenant life and spiritual welfare of the city. Neh 4:13 So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall… and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. Music gave the dedication its proper center: grateful praise to the Lord who had enabled His people to complete the work despite opposition. The organized choirs continued Israel’s established pattern of worship, seen in David’s arrangements for temple musicians and in the dedication of Solomon’s temple. Thanksgiving recognized that the wall was more than a successful building project; it was evidence of God’s faithfulness to restore His people. 1Ch 16:7 On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates… One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right, The procession visibly demonstrated the wall’s completeness and strength. As the singers moved around Jerusalem, their praise proclaimed that God had turned a vulnerable and reproached city into a defended community. The public celebration also united the people around the work God had accomplished among them. Psa 48:12-13 March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers,… toward the Dung Gate. The route extended toward the southern gate through which refuse was removed from the city. Even this less prominent part of Jerusalem was included in the thanksgiving procession, showing that the whole city belonged to God. The movement toward the place associated with cleansing also suited Nehemiah’s wider concern for purification, repentance, and renewed obedience among God’s people. Neh 2:13 So I went out at night through the Valley Gate… Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahThe governor of Judah who led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and initiated reforms to restore the spiritual and social order of the Jewish community. 2. Leaders of Judah These were the prominent figures and officials in the community who played a role in the dedication of the wall and the spiritual renewal of the people. 3. Thanksgiving Choirs Two groups organized by Nehemiah to give thanks and celebrate the completion of the wall. Their procession was a public demonstration of gratitude and worship. 4. The Wall of Jerusalem The physical structure that was rebuilt under Nehemiah's leadership, symbolizing protection, identity, and the restoration of the Jewish community. 5. Dung Gate One of the gates of Jerusalem, located in the southern part of the city, through which refuse was taken out. It marks a point in the procession of the thanksgiving choirs. Teaching Points The Importance of Leadership in WorshipNehemiah's role in organizing the choirs and leading the leaders of Judah highlights the importance of godly leadership in guiding communal worship and thanksgiving. Public Demonstration of Faith The procession on the wall serves as a public declaration of faith and gratitude, reminding believers of the importance of visibly expressing their faith in their communities. The Role of Music and Worship in Community Life The use of choirs and music in the dedication ceremony underscores the power of worship in uniting and uplifting the community. Symbolism of the Wall The wall represents not just physical security but also spiritual renewal and identity. Believers are encouraged to build and maintain their spiritual "walls" through faith and obedience. Gratitude as a Response to God's Faithfulness The thanksgiving choirs exemplify the appropriate response to God's faithfulness and provision, encouraging believers to cultivate a heart of gratitude. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Nehemiah 12:31?2. How does Nehemiah 12:31 demonstrate the importance of organized worship in community? 3. What role do leaders play in guiding worship, as seen in Nehemiah 12:31? 4. How can we implement Nehemiah's example of thanksgiving in our church today? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Nehemiah 12:31 and other biblical celebrations of thanksgiving? 6. How does Nehemiah 12:31 inspire personal commitment to worship and gratitude? 7. What is the significance of the two choirs in Nehemiah 12:31? 8. How does Nehemiah 12:31 reflect the importance of worship in community? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in Nehemiah 12:31? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 12? What Does Nehemiah 12:31 Mean Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall• Nehemiah personally leads; his presence underscores hands-on shepherding (see John 10:4, 1 Peter 5:2-3). • Elevating leaders onto the wall publicly demonstrates God’s completed work (Nehemiah 6:15-16) and proclaims, “This wall is trustworthy.” • Walls often symbolize salvation and protection (Isaiah 26:1). By standing on them, the leaders testify that God Himself is their security (Psalm 127:1). and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs • Worship is organized, intentional, and abundant—two “great” choirs, not a token effort (Psalm 150:2, 1 Corinthians 14:40). • Thanksgiving follows victory; the wall is finished, yet gratitude keeps dependence on God front-and-center (Colossians 2:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Public praise turns the city into a sanctuary, echoing David’s vision of continual worship in Jerusalem (Psalm 48:1-2). One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right • The procession forms a living testimony encircling the city—faith literally walks the perimeter of God’s faithfulness (Joshua 6:15-16). • Moving “to the right” (southward) signals order and direction, not chaos. God’s work deserves purposeful celebration (Exodus 15:1, 20-21). • As the singers march, every stone beneath their feet becomes a reminder that obedience produces tangible results (James 1:22-25). toward the Dung Gate • The Dung Gate was associated with refuse (Nehemiah 3:14); routing a choir there announces that even the city’s least attractive parts belong to God’s redemptive story (Hebrews 13:13). • Praise near the place of waste mirrors the gospel pattern: glory arises where sin and filth are discarded (Isaiah 61:3, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • Completing the circuit ensures that no section of life or city remains untouched by thanksgiving (Psalm 103:1-5). summary Nehemiah 12:31 showcases a leader lifting others onto the visible proof of God’s faithfulness, choreographing wholehearted, orderly praise that surrounds the entire city—even its messiest corner—with thanksgiving. The verse invites believers to celebrate finished victories, walk out their gratitude publicly, and let worship permeate every area of life. (31) The princes.—The chiefs were assembled somewhere on the south-west wall, and then divided into two companies.Verse 31. - I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies. Nehemiah caused all the chiefs of the nation, both lay and clerical, to mount upon the wall, and there marshalled them into two companies, composed of clergy and laity intermixed, one of which he placed under the direction of Ezra (ver. 36), while of the other he took the command himself (ver. 38). The place of assemblage must have been some portion of the western wall, probably the central portion, near the modern Jaffa gate. From this Ezra's company proceeded southward, and then eastward, along the southern wall, while Nehemiah's marched northward, and then eastward, along the northern wall, both processions meeting midway in the eastern wall, between the "water" and the "prison" gates. Toward the dung gate. On the position of this gate, see the comment on Nehemiah 2:13.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then I brought the leadersשָׂרֵ֣י (śā·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince of Judah יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites up וָאַעֲלֶה֙ (wā·’a·‘ă·leh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively on the wall, לַחוֹמָ֑ה (la·ḥō·w·māh) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2346: A wall of protection and I appointed וָאַעֲמִ֡ידָה (wā·’a·‘ă·mî·ḏāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations two שְׁתֵּ֣י (šə·tê) Number - fdc Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) great גְּדוֹלֹ֨ת (gə·ḏō·w·lōṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent thanksgiving [choirs]. תוֹדֹת֩ (ṯō·w·ḏōṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8426: An extension of the hand, avowal, adoration, a choir of worshippers One was to proceed וְתַהֲלֻכֹ֤ת (wə·ṯa·hă·lu·ḵōṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8418: A procession along מֵעַ֣ל (mê·‘al) Preposition-m Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the top of the wall לַחוֹמָ֔ה (la·ḥō·w·māh) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2346: A wall of protection to the right, לַיָּמִין֙ (lay·yā·mîn) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south toward the Dung הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת׃ (hā·’aš·pōṯ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 830: An ash heap, refuse heap, dunghill Gate. לְשַׁ֖עַר (lə·ša·‘ar) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate Additonal Resources Nehemiah 12:31 Blue Letter BibleNehemiah 12:31 Bible Gateway Nehemiah 12:31 Bible.com Nehemiah 12:31 NIV |
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