What is the meaning of Nehemiah 10:15? Bunni • Nehemiah 10 records the formal sealing of a covenant in Jerusalem after the wall is rebuilt. Verse 15 simply says, “Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,” but that brief mention places Bunni among the heads of families pledging obedience to God’s Law (compare Nehemiah 10:1–14 and 10:28–29). • By standing with Nehemiah, Ezra, and the priests, Bunni publicly affirms that God’s Word is true and binding. Whenever Scripture lists names, it underlines real people in real history—individuals who literally stepped forward. • Cross references show how covenant commitments were always meant to be personal as well as corporate: Joshua 24:24, “The people said to Joshua, ‘We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.’” Exodus 24:7 echoes the same resolve. • For us, Bunni’s appearance reminds that our walk with the Lord is not anonymous. God knows every name (Isaiah 43:1). He cherishes the wholehearted who choose obedience, even when all that is recorded about them is a single line. Azgad • Like Bunni, Azgad represents a family line (see Ezra 2:12) that had returned from exile. Their history shows a pattern of faithfulness: they came back to Judah, helped populate Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:17), and now seal the covenant. • The inclusion of family heads emphasizes generational discipleship. Psalm 78:5–7 says God “commanded our fathers to teach their children, so that the next generation would know.” Azgad’s signature tells us the family as a whole is aligning with God’s statutes. • Notice how Nehemiah 10:30–31 spells out practical obedience: guarding marriages, honoring the Sabbath, and keeping the land holy. Azgad’s name, nestled in this list, signals wholehearted agreement with those specifics. • Today, the principle stands: it is not enough to rebuild walls; God desires rebuilt hearts and households (Malachi 4:6). Azgad’s appearance encourages us to let our family stories be marked by visible loyalty to Scripture. Bebai • Bebai’s family had 623 returnees in Ezra 2:11; they also assisted in purifying the priesthood (Ezra 10:28). Their record culminates here in Nehemiah 10:15, affirming covenant fidelity. • This illustrates how God keeps track of continued obedience, not just one-time moments. Revelation 2:10 promises, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Bebai’s line shows faith that endures through decades of restoration work. • The placement of Bebai after Bunni and Azgad rounds out a trio of heads signaling unity. Psalm 133:1 comes to mind: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.” Genuine revival always knits diverse families into one body under God’s Word. • In practical terms, Bebai urges believers to finish what we start. Just as they completed Jerusalem’s wall and then sealed the covenant, we are called to perseverance: “Let us run with endurance the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). summary Nehemiah 10:15 may read like a simple name list—“Bunni, Azgad, Bebai”—yet each name testifies that Scripture is historically precise and spiritually purposeful. These three heads of households publicly bound themselves, their families, and their futures to God’s unchanging Law. Their appearance teaches that obedience is personal, generational, and enduring, and that true community revival requires every believer, known by name, to stand up and say, “We will follow the LORD.” |
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