Nehemiah 11 19

Nehemiah 11:19 kjv

Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

Nehemiah 11:19 nkjv

Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.

Nehemiah 11:19 niv

The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates?172 men.

Nehemiah 11:19 esv

The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172.

Nehemiah 11:19 nlt

From the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and 172 of their associates, who guarded the gates.

Nehemiah 11 verses

Nehemiah 11 19 Meaning

Nehemiah 11:19 details the specific assignment of gatekeepers in post-exilic Jerusalem. It identifies two prominent individuals, Akkub and Talmon, along with their kinsmen, totaling one hundred and seventy-two persons. These individuals were designated and committed to the vital role of guarding and overseeing the various gates of the city, ensuring its security and regulated access following the rebuilding of the walls. This record underscores the meticulous organization and dedicated human resources invested in the repopulation and restoration of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11 19 Context

Nehemiah chapter 11 primarily records the list of people who resettled Jerusalem after the completion of the city walls. Following intense opposition and labor in chapters 1-7, Nehemiah focused on repopulating the sparsely inhabited capital, recognizing its strategic importance both for security and as the center of Israel's spiritual life. Lots were cast to bring one in ten people from the surrounding towns and villages into Jerusalem (Neh 11:1). This chapter then meticulously lists the various groups and their numbers who voluntarily or by lot came to inhabit the city: leaders, priests, Levites, singers, and, as in verse 19, the gatekeepers. This verse, therefore, highlights a specific functional group crucial for the city's day-to-day operation and defense. Historically, after the Babylonian exile, Jerusalem was a shadow of its former glory. The population was small, the Temple lay desolate for decades, and the city walls were in ruins. Nehemiah's work brought both physical restoration through the wall building and social/spiritual renewal through repopulation, organizational structuring, and religious revival. The meticulous detailing of specific individuals and numbers underscores the significant effort required to re-establish a viable and secure community centered on God's covenant. The listing of these gatekeepers emphasizes the restoration of a vital civic and implicitly spiritual function, rooted in the ancient roles established for Temple service and city defense.

Nehemiah 11 19 Word analysis

• Also (Hebrew: גַּם, gam): An additive conjunction, signifying that this group (the gatekeepers) is included alongside other previously mentioned groups, such as priests and Levites, as part of the total residents being registered for Jerusalem. It shows a continuous, comprehensive listing.
• the gatekeepers (Hebrew: הַשֹּׁעֲרִים, ha-sho'arim): From sha'ar (gate). Refers to a specific and crucial role in ancient walled cities. Gatekeepers controlled access, ensured security, and often served administrative and judicial functions at the city's entrance. In a biblical context, especially for Jerusalem, they guarded the physical entry points and implicitly helped regulate the spiritual integrity of the city, much like Temple gatekeepers guarded access to the sacred spaces.
• Akkub (Hebrew: עַקּוּב, ʿAqqūb): A proper name, meaning "insidious" or "track-layer." This individual, likely a family head or progenitor of a gatekeeping lineage, is consistently mentioned in other lists of returning exiles as a prominent gatekeeper (Ezra 2:42, Neh 7:45, 1 Chr 9:17). His inclusion highlights leadership and established order within this specific group.
• Talmon (Hebrew: טַלְמוֹן, Ṭalmōn): Another proper name, meaning "oppressed" or "injury." Like Akkub, Talmon appears in parallel returnee lists for gatekeepers, indicating his significant role or familial representation in this service. The recurrence of these names across multiple records underscores their recognized importance in the community's restoration.
• and their brethren (Hebrew: וַאֲחֵיהֶם, waʾachēyhem): Lit. "and their brothers" or "kinsmen." This refers to other members of their families or clan who also served as gatekeepers. It signifies that this was often a hereditary office or a role fulfilled by a family guild, rather than just isolated individuals. It speaks to a communal and structured approach to the gatekeeping duty.
• who kept watch (Hebrew: הַשֹּׁמְרִים, ha-shomerim): From shamar (to keep, guard, watch). This participle explicitly defines their primary ongoing function: constant vigilance and security. This active role was paramount for the vulnerable, newly repopulated city. It implies responsibility, diligence, and protection.
• at the gates (Hebrew: בַּשְּׁעָרִים, ba-she'arim): "At the gates" (plural). Specifies the multiple locations where they performed their duties across the city of Jerusalem. The gates were the primary points of vulnerability and entry, thus requiring comprehensive guarding.
• one hundred and seventy-two (Hebrew: מֵאָה שִׁבְעִים וּשְׁנַיִם, me'ah shiv'im u-sh'nayim): A precise numerical figure. This level of detail confirms a careful and methodical census. It demonstrates the organized and quantitative allocation of manpower to essential city functions. It represents a significant number of dedicated individuals contributing directly to the city's safety and functionality.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept watch at the gates": This phrase encapsulates the professional body, highlighting both key leadership figures (Akkub, Talmon) and the larger group ("their brethren"). It defines their active role ("kept watch") and their operational location ("at the gates"). The structure implies a hierarchy and a dedicated service within a critical sector of the city's administration and defense. It portrays a well-ordered community taking intentional steps for its security.

Nehemiah 11 19 Bonus section

• Symbolic Significance of Gates: Beyond physical entry, gates in biblical culture were centers for judgment (Ruth 4:1), business transactions (Gen 23:10), public declarations (Jer 17:19), and often represented the strength or weakness of a city (Isa 22:7). Guarding these gates therefore meant guarding the very essence and character of the city's public life and spiritual integrity.
• Continuity of Sacred Duty: The role of gatekeepers has a strong heritage in Israel, particularly associated with the Levites who served at the Tabernacle and later the Temple (1 Chr 9, 26). The re-establishment of this office, even for city gates, marked a symbolic reclaiming of ordered service and function after the disruption of exile, pointing to the restoration of proper worship and community life.
• Human Agency in Divine Plan: While God is sovereign (Ps 127:1), Nehemiah’s account emphasizes active human participation, organization, and dedication. The detailed list of individuals for specific roles showcases the responsibility believers bear in God's unfolding plan. Each person and their designated task contributed to the holistic rebuilding of the covenant community.

Nehemiah 11 19 Commentary

Nehemiah 11:19 is a record of diligence and restoration, highlighting the assignment of gatekeepers as a critical component of repopulating and securing Jerusalem. The very precise number of one hundred and seventy-two, alongside the named individuals Akkub and Talmon, reflects the careful and intentional process of organizing the city's vital functions after the exile. These gatekeepers were not mere guards; they embodied the active defense and the controlled access of a community seeking to re-establish itself as the spiritual heart of Israel. Their role at the city's gates paralleled the historical importance of gatekeepers at the Temple, signaling a renewal of sacred duty. By maintaining watch, they physically protected the inhabitants from external threats and culturally guarded the city's integrity by regulating entry. This verse, though seemingly a simple administrative entry, symbolizes the commitment of a people dedicated to rebuilding, not just structures, but a God-honoring community defined by order, service, and vigilance under His sovereignty. It reminds believers of the necessity for order and vigilance in maintaining the health of the spiritual community today.