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Nehemiah 12:30

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 12:30 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
Nehemiah 12:30 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
27And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
28And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;
29also from Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
30And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
31Then 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:
32and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, etc.] By washing their bodies and their clothes, perhaps by sprinkling the water of purification on them, (see <040806>Numbers 8:6,7,21 19:9).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Purified themselves - They that would be instrumental to sanctify others, must sanctify themselves, and set themselves apart for God, with purity of mind and sincerity of intention. Nehemiah 12:31”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:30 The dedication ceremony required that the priests and Levites be purified and ready to enter the Temple area (see Exod 19:10; Num 8:5-7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“themselves: Gen 35:2; Exo 19:10, Exo 19:15; Num. 19:2-20; Ch2 29:5, Ch2 29:34; Ezr 6:21; Job 1:5; Heb 5:1, Heb 5:3 Nehemiah 12:31”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification