Original Word: חֲשַׁבְנְיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chashabnyah
Pronunciation: khash-ab-neh-yaw
Phonetic Spelling: (khash-ab-neh-yaw')
KJV: Hashabniah
NASB: Hashabneiah
Word Origin: [from H2808 (חֶשׁבּוֹן - explanation) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. thought of Jah
2. Chashabnejah, the name of two Israelites

Hashabniah

From cheshbown and Yahh; thought of Jah; Chashabnejah, the name of two Israelites -- Hashabniah.

see HEBREW cheshbown

see HEBREW Yahh

Word Origin
from chashab and Yah
Definition
"Yah has accounted," two Isr.
NASB Translation
Hashabneiah (2).

חֲשַׁבְנְיָה proper name, masculine (see foregoing); —

1 father of a builder at the wall Nehemiah 3:10, ᵐ5 Ασβαναμ; ᵐ5^L Σαβανιου[-ας].

2 a Levite Nehemiah 9:5 (omitted by ᵐ5 = חֲשַׁבְיָה 6

Name and Identity

Hashabniah (Strong’s Hebrew 2813) designates two post-exilic Israelites recorded by Nehemiah: (1) the father of Hattush, one of the wall-builders, and (2) a Levite who led the people in public worship and confession.

Occurrences and Immediate Context

Nehemiah 3:10 situates the name within the register of builders: “Next to them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.”

Nehemiah 9:5 lists a Levite by this name among those who summon the assembly to praise: “And the Levites — Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah — said, ‘Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting…’ ”.

Historical Setting

Both references fall within Nehemiah’s governorship (circa 445–433 BC) during the critical decades after the Babylonian exile. The era was marked by (1) physical reconstruction of Jerusalem’s defenses and (2) spiritual restoration through renewed covenant fidelity (Nehemiah 8–10). Hashabniah’s appearances mirror these twin priorities: building and worship.

Ministerial Roles

1. Contributing Family Head (Nehemiah 3:10)
• His son Hattush repaired a section of wall near the “House Zone,” indicating residence inside the city and willingness to labor for communal security (cf. Nehemiah 3:23, 29).
• Though unnamed as a builder himself, Hashabniah’s paternity signals household participation, reflecting Nehemiah’s strategy of mobilizing entire families.

2. Levite Worship Leader (Nehemiah 9:5)
• Listed among eight Levites who guide the congregation in standing, blessing, and confessing before the LORD.
• The prayer that follows (Nehemiah 9:6-37) rehearses salvation history, affirming God’s covenant faithfulness amid Israel’s repeated failures; Hashabniah helped articulate that national repentance.
• His presence underscores Levitical responsibility after exile: teaching the Law (Nehemiah 8:7-9) and shepherding corporate worship.

Spiritual Lessons and Theology

• Integrated Service: The two occurrences show complementary ministries—practical craftsmanship and liturgical leadership—illustrating that covenant life requires both deeds and devotion (James 2:18; Colossians 3:17).
• Generational Faithfulness: Hashabniah’s name frames a father-son partnership, reminding readers that commitment to God’s work is transmitted through family lines (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:5).
• Restoration Pattern: His participation in the wall project and the great confession embodies the biblical sequence of cleansing, rebuilding, and consecration (Ezra 3; Haggai 2; 1 Peter 2:4-5).
• Leadership under Scripture: The Levites in Nehemiah 9 root their exhortation in the written Word, setting a precedent for expositional prayer and worship grounded in God’s revelation (Acts 6:4; 1 Timothy 4:13).

Related Names and Legacy

Although Hashabniah is otherwise unattested, his son Hattush (Nehemiah 10:4; Ezra 8:2) signs the covenant renewal document, indicating an enduring family influence. The Levite group that includes Hashabniah reappears in Nehemiah 10:10-13, attesting to sustained ministry throughout the reforms.

Summary

Hashabniah represents the anonymous yet indispensable servants who advance God’s redemptive purposes: one through fathering a builder who fortifies Jerusalem’s walls, another by lifting his voice to call God’s people to worship and obedience. Together they exemplify holistic dedication—hands building, lips praising, hearts aligned with the covenant Lord.

חֲשַׁבְנְיָ֜ה חֲשַׁבְנְיָֽה׃ חשבניה חשבניה׃ chashavneYah ḥă·šaḇ·nə·yāh ḥăšaḇnəyāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts