Nehemiah 10:16

KJV

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

KJV (with Strong's)

Adonijah {H138}, Bigvai {H902}, Adin {H5720},

Complete Jewish Bible

Adoniyah, Bigvai, 'Adin,

Berean Standard Bible

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

American Standard Version

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 10:16, a concise list of three names—Adonijah, Bigvai, and Adin—serves as a specific entry within the comprehensive roster of individuals who formally affixed their seals to the solemn covenant in post-exilic Jerusalem. This verse, though brief, underscores the meticulous record-keeping and the individual accountability inherent in the community's corporate commitment to God's laws and ordinances, following a period of spiritual revival and the rebuilding of the city walls. It highlights that the nation's renewed dedication was comprised of countless personal pledges, each name representing a deliberate act of assent to live in faithfulness to the Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 10:16 is situated within a lengthy and meticulously detailed list spanning [Nehemiah 10:1-27](/nehemiah/10 "Nehemiah 10 - The Sealed Covenant"), which records the names of those who sealed the covenant. This chapter immediately follows a profound period of spiritual renewal, marked by the public reading and explanation of the Law by Ezra ([Nehemiah 8](/nehemiah/8 "Nehemiah 8 - The Reading of the Law")), followed by a national confession of sin, worship, and a recounting of God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history ([Nehemiah 9](/nehemiah/9 "Nehemiah 9 - Confession and Covenant")). The sealing of the covenant, explicitly mentioned in [Nehemiah 9:38](/nehemiah/9-38 "Nehemiah 9:38 - The Covenant Sealed"), serves as the climactic formalization of this spiritual awakening, transforming a collective spiritual experience into a binding legal and religious commitment. The inclusion of individual names, even seemingly minor ones like those in verse 16, emphasizes the comprehensive nature of this agreement, encompassing all segments of the returning community.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Nehemiah 10 unfold in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period, specifically in the mid-5th century BCE, under the reign of Artaxerxes I of Persia. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylonian captivity in stages, with Nehemiah leading the third major return and overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Culturally, covenant-making was a foundational aspect of ancient Near Eastern societies, often involving formal documents, witnesses, and public declarations to solidify agreements between parties, whether nations or individuals. For Israel, the covenant with God was central to their identity, distinguishing them from surrounding pagan cultures. The specific terms of this renewed covenant, detailed later in [Nehemiah 10](/nehemiah/10 "Nehemiah 10 - The Covenant Terms"), addressed pressing issues like avoiding intermarriage with foreign peoples, observing the Sabbath, and supporting the temple service through tithes and offerings, all of which reflected a deep desire to re-establish a pure and obedient community in the land.

* **Key Themes:** The listing of names in Nehemiah 10:16, within the broader context of the chapter, powerfully articulates several key themes. Firstly, **Covenant Renewal and Commitment** is paramount, signifying the people's deliberate choice to re-enter and affirm their relationship with Yahweh, binding themselves to His Law. Secondly, it highlights **Corporate and Individual Accountability**: while the nation acted as a whole, the meticulous record of each name underscores that collective commitment is built upon personal responsibility and assent. Each individual, from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens, had a personal stake in upholding the covenant. Thirdly, the chapter emphasizes **Faithfulness to God's Law**, as the covenant detailed specific promises to obey the Mosaic Law, demonstrating a tangible desire to live out their faith. Finally, the act of sealing the covenant, with names like Adonijah, Bigvai, and Adin included, speaks to the theme of **Unity in Purpose**, as a diverse community came together to affirm a shared spiritual direction and identity, setting themselves apart for God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Adonijah (Hebrew, _ʼĂḏōnîyāh_):** This common Hebrew name means "my Lord is Yahweh" or "the Lord is my master." Its inclusion here, alongside other names, subtly reinforces the theological grounding of the entire covenant. Even in a simple list, the names themselves can carry a testimony to God's sovereignty and the people's recognition of Him, reflecting a deep-seated identity tied to the divine.
* **Bigvai (Persian/Hebrew, _Biḡvay_):** This name is likely of Persian origin, possibly meaning "my body" or "my garment." Bigvai is also mentioned among those who returned with Zerubbabel in [Ezra 2:2](/ezra/2-2 "Ezra 2:2 - Returnees with Zerubbabel") and [Nehemiah 7:7](/nehemiah/7-7 "Nehemiah 7:7 - Those Who Returned with Zerubbabel"), indicating a prominent family or clan. Its Persian root suggests the diverse origins of some returnees, yet their inclusion in the covenant underscores the unified commitment of all who identified with Israel and its God.
* **Adin (Hebrew, _ʻĀḏîn_):** Meaning "delicate," "luxurious," or "effeminate," Adin is another name representing a family head whose descendants returned from exile ([Ezra 2:15](/ezra/2-15 "Ezra 2:15 - Adin's Descendants")). The presence of such a name, regardless of its etymological nuance, primarily serves to demonstrate the comprehensive nature of the covenant-sealing, involving representatives from all significant family lines and groups within the community.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Adonijah":** This name represents one of the individuals, likely a head of a family or clan, who formally affixed his seal to the covenant document. His inclusion signifies his personal and his family's commitment to the terms of the renewed covenant, making a public declaration of allegiance to God's Law and the community's spiritual directives.
* **"Bigvai":** As a prominent figure whose family had returned with Zerubbabel, Bigvai's name here underscores the participation of established and influential families in the covenant. His presence validates the widespread acceptance of the covenant among different segments of the population, including those who had been part of earlier returns.
* **"Adin":** Adin's inclusion further emphasizes the breadth of participation in the covenant sealing. Like Adonijah and Bigvai, his name represents a family unit publicly committing to uphold the terms of the covenant, demonstrating that the agreement was not merely a top-down mandate but a collective, affirmed pledge by the people's representatives. The collective listing of these names, without further individual detail, highlights the importance of their corporate action and the meticulous record of every participant.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 10:16 primarily employs the literary device of **Catalog** or **List**. This technique is used extensively throughout Nehemiah 10 to meticulously record the names of the leaders, priests, Levites, and people who sealed the covenant. The purpose of such a comprehensive list is multi-faceted: it serves as a historical and legal document, providing an undeniable record of those who publicly committed themselves; it emphasizes the widespread participation and corporate nature of the covenant renewal; and it underscores the individual accountability of each person named. The sheer volume of names, even in brief snippets like verse 16, creates a sense of **Completeness** and **Thoroughness**, demonstrating that the commitment was not superficial but deeply ingrained and broadly accepted across the community. Furthermore, the names themselves can function as a form of **Metonymy**, where the individual name stands for the entire family or clan they represent, signifying their collective assent to the covenant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The act of sealing the covenant, with individuals like Adonijah, Bigvai, and Adin taking part, resonates deeply with the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness and humanity's response. This moment in Nehemiah reflects a profound desire by the post-exilic community to re-establish their identity as God's people, distinct from the nations, by aligning themselves once more with the Mosaic Law. It underscores the principle that true spiritual revival must culminate in tangible commitment and obedience. While the Old Covenant, even when renewed, proved insufficient due to human frailty, this event serves as a powerful reminder of the human longing for divine order and the importance of a public declaration of faith. It anticipates the ultimate and perfect covenant established through Christ, where the law is written not on tablets of stone but on the hearts of believers.

* [Deuteronomy 29:10-15](/deuteronomy/29-10 "The Covenant at Moab")
* [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "The Promise of a New Covenant")
* [Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6 "Christ's Superior Covenant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nehemiah 10:16, though a simple list of names, offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that while our faith is deeply personal, it is also intrinsically communal. Just as Adonijah, Bigvai, and Adin were counted among those who publicly affirmed their commitment, our individual dedication to God contributes to the strength and witness of the collective body of Christ. This verse challenges us to consider the depth of our own covenant with God, not merely as an intellectual assent but as a lived reality that impacts our choices, our relationships, and our participation in the faith community. It calls us to move beyond passive belief to active, public, and accountable commitment, demonstrating that our spiritual declarations are indeed followed by diligent practice, much like the solemn oath taken by the people in [Nehemiah 10:29](/nehemiah/10-29 "The Oath to Walk in God's Law"). Our names may not be listed in a biblical text, but they are known to God, and our faithfulness, whether in public or private, matters eternally.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my personal commitment to God contribute to the spiritual health and witness of my local church or faith community?**
* **In what practical ways can I publicly affirm my dedication to God's commands and His kingdom today?**
* **Considering the seriousness of the covenant in Nehemiah, what areas of my life need to align more fully with my professed faith and commitment to Christ?**

### FAQ
**Why are these specific names listed in the Bible?**

Answer: The listing of names like Adonijah, Bigvai, and Adin in Nehemiah 10 serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it functions as a meticulous historical and legal record, validating the solemn covenant made by the post-exilic community. By naming individuals, the text underscores the personal accountability of each participant in the corporate act of renewing their allegiance to God's Law. This comprehensive roster demonstrates that the commitment was not merely a top-down decree but a widespread, affirmed pledge by representatives from all significant family lines and groups. It highlights the importance of individual consent within the collective body, ensuring that the covenant was binding on all who were counted, as emphasized by the sealing of the document in [Nehemiah 9:38](/nehemiah/9-38 "The Covenant Sealed").

**Does the meaning of these names have theological significance here?**

Answer: While the individual meanings of Hebrew names often carry theological weight (e.g., "Adonijah" meaning "my Lord is Yahweh"), the primary theological significance in Nehemiah 10:16 lies not so much in the etymology of each name, but in the *act* of their being named and counted. The meticulous recording of each individual, regardless of their name's specific meaning, emphasizes the personal stake each person had in the covenant and the comprehensiveness of the community's commitment. It highlights the principle that God values each individual's participation and that collective faithfulness is built upon countless personal acts of obedience. The names serve as concrete evidence of widespread participation and accountability rather than as symbolic statements through their individual meanings in this particular context.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The covenant renewal in Nehemiah 10, with its solemn declarations and lists of names, powerfully foreshadows the new and better covenant established through Jesus Christ. While the Old Covenant, even when reaffirmed with such fervor, ultimately could not perfect the people due to their inherent sinfulness, it pointed to the need for a more enduring solution. Christ, as the mediator of a [new covenant](/hebrews/8-6 "A Better Covenant"), fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, establishing an eternal covenant sealed not by human hands but by His own blood ([Matthew 26:28](/matthew/26-28 "The Blood of the New Covenant")). In this new covenant, our names are not merely listed on a scroll to affirm our commitment to a law we cannot perfectly keep, but they are eternally inscribed in the [Lamb's Book of Life](/revelation/21-27 "The Book of Life") through faith in His finished work. The corporate body of Christ, the Church, is united under this superior covenant, where each member is individually known and valued by the Good Shepherd ([John 10:14](/john/10-14 "Jesus, the Good Shepherd")), and our commitment is secured by the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling true obedience and transforming our hearts from within.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezra 2:14

The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.

Ezra 2:16

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

Nehemiah 7:19

The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

Nehemiah 7:21

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

Ezra 8:14

Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.