Ezra 2:64 kjv
The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
Ezra 2:64 nkjv
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,
Ezra 2:64 niv
The whole company numbered 42,360,
Ezra 2:64 esv
The whole assembly together was 42,360,
Ezra 2:64 nlt
So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah,
Ezra 2 64 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 7:66 | The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty. | Exact parallel verse confirms total |
| Ezra 1:1-4 | Cyrus's proclamation allows the return for temple rebuilding. | Divine initiation of the return |
| Ezra 2:1-63 | Preceding verses detail various groups that comprise this total. | Lists components of the returned assembly |
| Isa 10:21-22 | A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. | Prophecy of a remnant's return |
| Jer 23:3 | I will gather the remnant of My flock from all countries... | Prophecy of scattered people regathered |
| Ezek 37:21 | I will take the people of Israel from the nations where they have gone... | Divine promise of restoration |
| Zech 8:7-8 | I am saving My people from the land of the east and from the west... | God gathering His scattered people |
| Deut 30:3-5 | Even if you are cast out to the ends of the heavens, the Lord will gather. | Covenant promise of regathering |
| Rom 9:27 | Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant. | Theological truth of God's chosen remnant |
| Rom 11:5 | So too at the present time there has come to be a remnant, chosen by grace. | Continual preservation of a chosen people |
| Num 1:46 | All who were numbered were 603,550. | Example of God meticulously numbering His people |
| Exod 30:12-16 | When you take a census of the people... each shall give a ransom. | Counting God's people requires a consecration |
| 1 Chr 21:5 | And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David... | Importance of accurate, divine-ordained counts |
| Ps 147:4 | He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. | God's knowledge and ordering of creation and His people |
| Joel 2:32 | And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for... in Zion. | God's salvation extends to a preserved group |
| Ezra 3:1 | The people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. | Unity of the returning community |
| Neh 1:9 | Gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen. | God fulfilling His promise to gather |
| Ps 126:1-3 | When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. | Joy and divine hand in the restoration |
| Hag 1:8 | Go up to the mountains and bring wood and rebuild the house. | Divine call for the returned community to build |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. | God's enablement for the remnant's task |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... | New Testament understanding of God's unique people |
| Rev 7:4, 9 | Number of those who were sealed, 144,000... a great multitude that no one could number. | Divine numbering and the vastness of God's redeemed |
Ezra 2 verses
Ezra 2 64 Meaning
Ezra 2:64 states the grand total number of the congregation, or the entire assembly, of people who returned from the Babylonian exile to Judah. This precise figure of forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty represents the core community that returned under the decree of Cyrus, forming the foundation for the rebuilt nation and temple in Jerusalem.
Ezra 2 64 Context
Ezra chapter 2 is a detailed register of the first wave of Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah. This repatriation occurred following the decree of King Cyrus of Persia in 538 BC, which allowed the exiled Jews to return and rebuild the house of the Lord (Ezra 1:1-4). The chapter lists various family lines, priests, Levites, temple servants, and others, specifying the numbers for each group. This meticulous accounting established the identities of those who rightfully belonged to the restored community, which was crucial for their inheritance of land, their participation in the temple service, and their re-establishment as God's people in their own land. Verse 64 serves as the summary statement, providing the overall headcount of all listed returnees, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of this foundational census for the returning post-exilic community. It is a precise historical record underpinning the re-establishment of the Israelite nation.
Ezra 2 64 Word analysis
The whole assembly:
- "whole" (כֻּלּוֹ - kullō): Signifies totality or completeness. It means all of them or their whole. This emphasizes that the precise number given is a comprehensive sum, covering every category and individual listed or intended for inclusion.
- "assembly" (הַקָּהָל - haqāhāl): Derived from the root qāhal, meaning "to assemble." Qāhāl refers to a gathered community or congregation, often with a formal, religious, or national significance. It denotes an organized body, the collective people of Israel, summoned by divine or human decree. This emphasizes that these were not just random individuals, but God's gathered people forming a unified community.
together: This adverb further reinforces the comprehensive and unified nature of the count, indicating that all the separate groups mentioned earlier are here united and summed up into a single collective total.
was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty:
- Precision: The exact number indicates meticulous record-keeping, common in ancient Near Eastern administrations and crucial for biblical narratives affirming accuracy. This precise figure contrasts with more general or rounded estimates sometimes used in other ancient texts, highlighting the factual nature of this historical record.
- Significance: This specific count represents the literal fulfillment of prophecies concerning the return of a remnant (e.g., Isa 10:21-22; Jer 23:3). It shows God's faithfulness in preserving a distinct body of His people even through severe judgment and exile. It also serves as the demographic and communal foundation for the rebuilding of the Temple and the re-establishment of Jewish life in the land of Judah. This precise number represents those who actively responded to God's call to return and initiate His purposes.
Ezra 2 64 Bonus section
The precise number in Ezra 2:64 is directly replicated in Nehemiah 7:66, confirming its consistent transmission across these closely related biblical accounts. This numerical agreement highlights the reliability and historical veracity attached to these records. While there are slight discrepancies between the sum of the individual groups listed in Ezra 2:3-63 and this total, scholars often attribute this to various factors such as different counting methods, the inclusion of those not formally listed by family, or rounded figures in earlier sections being superseded by a final precise sum. However, the integrity and significance of the grand total of "forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty" as the comprehensive assembly remain paramount. This demonstrates God's precision in governing His people, highlighting that His plan for their restoration was not vague but intricately detailed and meticulously executed, even down to the very number of individuals involved.
Ezra 2 64 Commentary
Ezra 2:64 culminates a detailed census, providing a singular, comprehensive total for all the people who returned from the Babylonian captivity. This meticulous numbering underscores God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Despite the severity of the exile, God preserved a "remnant," and this verse precisely quantifies that preserved group. The specificity of "forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty" highlights divine order and meticulous record-keeping. It signifies that God is in control, orchestrating the exact number of people necessary to initiate the rebuilding of the temple and the re-establishment of His covenant people in the land. This accurately counted remnant forms the foundational generation upon whom the future of Israel was built.