Nehemiah 11:4 kjv
And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;
Nehemiah 11:4 nkjv
Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. The children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;
Nehemiah 11:4 niv
while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem): From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez;
Nehemiah 11:4 esv
And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;
Nehemiah 11:4 nlt
but some of the people from Judah and Benjamin resettled in Jerusalem.) From the tribe of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the family of Perez.
Nehemiah 11 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 11:1-3 | Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in other towns… | Immediate context; drawing lots for resettlement. |
| 1 Chr 9:2-3 | Now the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim. And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin... | Parallel post-exilic dwelling lists. |
| Ezra 2:1 | Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away... | Broader list of first returnees. |
| Neh 7:4 | Now the city was wide and large, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt. | Shows Jerusalem's depopulated state prior to this. |
| Neh 7:6-73 | This is the list of those who came up from Babylonia... | Extensive census of returned exiles. |
| Isa 44:26, 28 | who confirms the word of His servant... Who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’... and of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure,’ saying to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be built!’ and to the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ | Prophecy of Jerusalem's rebuilding and habitation. |
| Zech 1:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and a measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.’ | God's promise of dwelling in a restored Jerusalem. |
| Zech 2:4-5 | and said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” | Prophecy of Jerusalem’s growth and divine protection. |
| Zech 8:3 | “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the Holy City, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts; and the Mountain of God.’” | Divine re-inhabitation of Jerusalem. |
| Ps 122:6 | Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. | Importance and blessing for Jerusalem. |
| Jer 30:18 | “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, and the palace shall remain according to its plan.’” | Promise of Judah's restoration and resettlement. |
| Ezek 36:33 | ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. | General restoration of inhabited cities. |
| Neh 2:17-18 | Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste... ‘Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.’ So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” | The initiative to rebuild Jerusalem. |
| Ezr 8:1 | These are the heads of their fathers’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon... | Example of importance of lineage during the return. |
| Mt 1:1-17 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David... | Importance of careful genealogical records, esp. Judah. |
| Gen 49:10 | The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. | Prophecy about Judah's enduring tribal importance. |
| Isa 60:21 | Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever... that I may be glorified.” | Future dwelling of the righteous in their land. |
| Rev 21:2-3 | Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them...” | Ultimate divine dwelling with His people in New Jerusalem. |
| Ezek 37:26-27 | “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them... And I will establish them and multiply them... My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” | God's eternal dwelling among His people. |
| Acts 1:8 | “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” | Jerusalem as a starting point for God's redemptive plan. |
| Luke 2:4 | Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. | Judah's continued significance through Christ's lineage. |
Nehemiah 11 verses
Nehemiah 11 4 Meaning
Nehemiah 11:4 details a specific part of the re-establishment of Jerusalem’s population after the Babylonian exile. It lists the tribes of Judah and Benjamin as the primary groups residing in the newly restored city and specifically names Athaiah, a descendant of Perez from the tribe of Judah, along with his patriarchal lineage. This verse marks the beginning of a detailed roster of heads of families and prominent individuals who resettled Jerusalem, underscoring the spiritual and practical importance of repopulating the Holy City following the completion of its walls.
Nehemiah 11 4 Context
Nehemiah 11:4 fits within a broader narrative of restoration in the post-exilic period, following the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon under the decrees of Persian kings. The book of Nehemiah primarily focuses on the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and the subsequent re-establishment of social and religious order among the Jewish community in Judah. After the successful completion of the walls in chapter 6 and the census in chapter 7, a critical challenge remained: populating the heavily depopulated capital city. Jerusalem was vital for national security and religious identity, yet many preferred to live in outlying towns and cultivate their land. Therefore, Nehemiah 11 describes the process by which leaders, and then a tithe of the remaining population, either volunteered or were chosen by lot to reside in Jerusalem, beginning with its leaders and key families. Verse 4 initiates the specific listing of those individuals from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, highlighting the re-concentration of the nation's spiritual and civic life in the central holy city.
Nehemiah 11 4 Word analysis
- Some of the people of Judah and some of the people of Benjamin:
- Judah (יְהוּדָה - Yehudah) and Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין - Binyamin): These were the primary tribes of the Southern Kingdom who were taken into Babylonian exile and thus constituted the bulk of the returning community. Their resettlement was crucial for continuity. Judah held the promise of kingship (Gen 49:10) and provided the lineage for David, while Benjamin was historically intertwined with Jerusalem, as parts of the city lay within its tribal territory (Josh 18:28).
- lived in Jerusalem:
- lived (יָשְׁבוּ - yashvu): From the root yashav (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit, to dwell, to inhabit, to remain." It signifies establishing a permanent residence. This wasn't a temporary visit but a commitment to dwell in the challenging environment of a recently rebuilt and still vulnerable city.
- Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - Yerushalayim): The Holy City, central to Israelite identity, divine promises, and worship. Its repopulation was not merely a logistical matter but a theological imperative for God's purposes to continue in the land.
- From the people of Judah:
- Highlights the immediate focus on the tribe that bore the name of the province (Judah) and whose descendants would form the bulk of the citizenry.
- Athaiah (עֲתָיָה - Ataiah): Likely meaning "Yah has saved" or "Yah is pre-eminent." A leading figure whose family's commitment set an example. The naming of specific individuals underscores the personal sacrifice and dedication involved in settling a potentially dangerous and economically challenging city.
- son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel:
- Genealogical list: This precise tracing of lineage emphasizes legitimacy, tribal purity, and continuity with the pre-exilic heritage. Genealogies were vital for establishing claims to land, priesthood, and confirming Israelite identity, especially after exile.
- from the descendants of Perez (פֶּרֶץ - Peretz):
- Perez was the son of Judah by Tamar (Gen 38:29). His line was prominent, especially as it was through Perez that King David descended (Ruth 4:18-22), linking this repopulation to the Messianic lineage and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. This specific lineage emphasizes not just a physical return, but a spiritual and historical continuation of God's chosen people within His chosen city.
Nehemiah 11 4 Bonus section
The act of repopulating Jerusalem in Nehemiah 11 highlights a blend of human effort and divine leading. The casting of lots (mentioned in Neh 11:1) indicates reliance on divine providence in conjunction with the willingness of individuals to sacrifice for the common good. While physical walls provided security, it was the people dwelling within them who gave the city life, defended it, and performed its religious functions. The naming of specific individuals like Athaiah also suggests a "remnant theology," where a faithful minority undertakes significant tasks for the entire community. Their willingness to inhabit a dangerous city can be seen as an act of patriotism, a commitment to covenant, and a deep spiritual desire for God's purposes concerning Jerusalem to be realized. The chapter, including this verse, therefore portrays not just a logistical problem solved, but a community's faith actively expressed in resuscitating their spiritual capital.
Nehemiah 11 4 Commentary
Nehemiah 11:4 initiates the list of faithful individuals and families who committed to resettling Jerusalem. This act, whether by voluntary choice or drawing of lots, was a profound demonstration of faith and civic responsibility in the post-exilic community. It wasn't simply a matter of occupying empty houses but of investing one's life, family, and future into a city that was still vulnerable, economically uncertain, and faced external threats. The emphasis on Judah and Benjamin reflects their historical and numerical prominence among the returnees. Furthermore, the inclusion of a detailed genealogy for Athaiah, specifically tracing him back to Perez, is not mere record-keeping; it affirms the legitimate and divinely-preserved lineage connecting the resettled community back to their foundational heritage, especially through Judah's royal line, providing a profound sense of continuity and divine purpose in the midst of rebuilding. It reminds us that physical rebuilding must be accompanied by spiritual commitment and inhabitation for a community to truly thrive.