Nehemiah 3 4

Nehemiah 3:4 kjv

And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.

Nehemiah 3:4 nkjv

And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.

Nehemiah 3:4 niv

Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs.

Nehemiah 3:4 esv

And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.

Nehemiah 3:4 nlt

Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana.

Nehemiah 3 verses

Nehemiah 3 4 Meaning

Nehemiah 3:4 describes the specific individuals who repaired successive sections of the wall of Jerusalem, starting from a point identified earlier in the chapter. It names Meremoth son of Uriah, of the family of Hakkoz; Meshullam son of Berekiah, of the family of Meshezabel; and Zadok son of Baana. This verse emphasizes the precise, communal, and diligent effort undertaken by distinct individuals and their families in the great work of rebuilding the holy city's defenses.

Nehemiah 3 4 Context

Nehemiah 3 records the monumental task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, which had lain in ruins for decades after the Babylonian exile. The chapter provides a detailed, organized account, sector by sector, listing the various groups, families, guilds, and individuals who participated. Each verse often notes the adjacent sections, illustrating the contiguous nature of the work. Nehemiah 3:4 falls within this continuous list, specifically identifying individuals and their familial associations involved in repairing their assigned segments. This historical setting emphasizes the dire need for security for the returning exiles, the significance of Jerusalem's identity, and the extraordinary collaborative effort under Nehemiah's divinely inspired leadership. The rebuilding was not merely a physical task but a spiritual restoration of communal identity and commitment to God's covenant.

Nehemiah 3 4 Word analysis

• Next to them / Next to him (אֵצֶל - ‘etsel): This Hebrew preposition means "at the side of," "by," or "near." Its repeated use throughout Nehemiah 3 emphasizes the sequential and cooperative nature of the wall's reconstruction. Each group or individual worked on a segment directly adjacent to the previous one, forming a continuous line of effort and illustrating perfect coordination under Nehemiah's master plan.
• Meremoth (מְרֵמֽוֹת - Məremot): The name means "heights" or "ascensions." He is identified as the "son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz." Uriah appears as a priestly name, and "Hakkoz" (also Qoz) identifies a specific priestly division (1 Chr 24:10). This indicates that Meremoth belonged to a notable priestly family, implying their commitment and possible leadership or financial contribution to the rebuilding effort, going beyond their regular priestly duties. In Ezra 8:33, a "Meremoth son of Uriah the priest" weighed Temple treasures.
• made repairs (הֶחֱזִ֔יק - heḥĕzîq): From the root ḥāzaq, meaning "to be strong, firm, strengthen, lay hold of, seize, repair." This verb is crucial and repeated nearly 40 times in Nehemiah 3. It denotes not just constructing, but restoring firmly and strengthening. This was not a temporary patch-up but a work of durability, emphasizing a steadfast and dedicated effort to make the wall robust and secure.
• Meshullam (מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם - Məšullām): The name means "allied" or "repaid/at peace." This was a common name during the post-exilic period, appearing several times in Ezra and Nehemiah. This particular Meshullam is identified by his lineage: "son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel." The specificity of lineage emphasizes distinct identity and familial responsibility within the community's cooperative work.
• Berekiah (בֶּרֶכְיָ֖ה - Bereḵyāh): The name means "Yah has blessed."
• Meshezabel (מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵל - Məšêzaḇ’ēl): The name means "God delivers."
• Zadok (צָד֣וֹק - Tsāḏōq): The name means "righteous." This is a highly significant priestly name, tracing back to the high priest Zadok from the time of David and Solomon. While many bore this name, its mention likely refers to a prominent family. The inclusion of this individual indicates a diverse yet unified participation across different social and religious strata of the returned exiles.
• Baana (בַּעֲנָה - Ba‘ănāh): The name means "in affliction."

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs.": This phrase introduces the first of three work teams/individuals in this verse. The inclusion of Meremoth's grandfather, Hakkoz, emphasizes his prominent lineage, likely a priestly one. The detail signifies that even esteemed religious families actively participated in the arduous manual labor, underscoring communal commitment beyond social status.
• "Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs.": Similar to the preceding phrase, this highlights another individual and his specific, detailed ancestry. This meticulous record-keeping underscores the dignity of labor, ensuring each family's contribution was acknowledged before God and the community, rather than being anonymous. It emphasizes accountability and collective ownership of the project.
• "Next to him Zadok son of Baana made repairs.": This phrase continues the pattern of recognizing individual contributions by name and immediate paternal lineage. The frequent use of "next to him" throughout Nehemiah 3 establishes a precise blueprint of coordinated effort, emphasizing the continuity of the work and the absence of gaps. Each builder depended on the work of those on either side.

Nehemiah 3 4 Bonus section

The systematic recording of names in Nehemiah 3 implicitly conveys several theological truths. It highlights that God meticulously observes and values the work of His people (Matt 10:42; Heb 6:10). Just as human records kept track of individual contributions to Jerusalem's physical walls, so too are believers’ works recorded in heavenly registers, pointing to an ultimate accounting and reward. The rebuilding of the wall, from a spiritual perspective, can be seen as restoring spiritual boundaries and distinctiveness for God's people. Each individual "strengthening" their section contributes to the overall strength and purity of the community. This detailed communal effort foreshadows the New Testament concept of the church as a spiritual building, with each believer being a "living stone" built together into a dwelling place for God (1 Pet 2:5; Eph 2:20-22), where every member's specific contribution is vital and inter-connected. The diligent ḥāzaq "making strong" speaks to the need for perseverance and dedication in God's service against opposition, understanding that the work is for the glory of God and the welfare of His people.

Nehemiah 3 4 Commentary

Nehemiah 3:4 is a testament to the practical, detailed nature of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, reflecting the post-exilic community's commitment to restoring their city and their identity. The specific mention of Meremoth, Meshullam, and Zadok, along with their detailed genealogies, serves multiple purposes. First, it honors individual contributors and families, emphasizing that every single participant, regardless of their background or stature, was crucial to the success of the divinely inspired task. This challenges the notion that only leaders or large groups accomplish great things; God values the particular and often unseen labor of each individual. Second, the meticulous naming and "next to him" progression underscore the unity and coordinated effort. No one worked in isolation; their labors flowed seamlessly into one another, building a stronger, unbroken defense. Third, the involvement of figures potentially connected to priestly lines (like Meremoth from Hakkoz, and Zadok) demonstrates that religious leaders were not aloof but actively engaged in the community's physical and spiritual restoration, uniting sacred and secular duties. This detailed record contrasts the selfless work for God's purposes with selfish endeavors.