Nehemiah 10:22

Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

Nehemiah 10:22 (KJV)

Context

Nehemiah 10:22 appears within a longer list of names in Nehemiah 10:1-27. These are the people who sealed a solemn covenant to follow God’s law after the exiles returned to Jerusalem. The verse names three of them: Pelatiah, Hanan, and Anaiah. The list includes priests, Levites, and leaders, but it also includes many ordinary Israelites. Their names appear together because they all made the same public promise.

Meaning

The three names carry meaning in Hebrew. Pelatiah likely means “Yahweh delivers” or “Yahweh has rescued.” Hanan means “gracious” or “merciful.” Anaiah means “Yahweh has answered.” These names were not random labels. They expressed the faith of the families who gave them. The people who sealed the covenant were declaring that God had delivered them, shown them grace, and answered their prayers.

The act of sealing was serious. In Nehemiah 9:38 the people made a sure covenant and wrote it, and their leaders sealed it. The names in Nehemiah 10:22 are part of that written agreement. By placing their names on the document, these individuals bound themselves to obey God’s commands. The covenant was both a spiritual promise and a legal commitment.

Biblical connections

The covenant renewal in Nehemiah 9:38-10:29 followed a time of confession and worship. The people had heard the law read and had responded with repentance. Their sealing of the covenant was a direct answer to God’s faithfulness. The names in this verse show that the promise was not made by a few leaders alone. It was made by the whole community, each person taking personal responsibility.

Application

These three names remind readers that God knows His people individually. Pelatiah, Hanan, and Anaiah are not famous figures elsewhere in Scripture. Yet their names are recorded here because their faithful participation mattered. In the same way, every believer has a place in God’s work. Faithfulness is not measured by prominence but by obedience and inclusion in the covenant community.

The names also point to God’s character. He delivers, He is gracious, and He answers. Believers can trust in His deliverance, rely on His grace, and persist in prayer. The covenant list encourages each person to see their own life as part of God’s redemptive plan and to live in a way that matches their commitment to Him.

Reflection

Consider what it means to have your name written in a covenant with God. The people in Nehemiah’s day made a public promise to follow the law. Their names were recorded for all to see. Today, believers are called to a similar personal commitment. God knows each name and values each faithful participant in His community.