Nehemiah 7 13

Nehemiah 7:13 kjv

The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.

Nehemiah 7:13 nkjv

the sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five;

Nehemiah 7:13 niv

of Zattu ? 845

Nehemiah 7:13 esv

The sons of Zattu, 845.

Nehemiah 7:13 nlt

The family of Zattu ? 845

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 13 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:13 identifies one specific family group among the post-exilic community who returned from Babylonian captivity to Judah. It records "The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five," indicating that 845 individuals from the household of Zattu were part of this vital demographic. This verse is part of a detailed census, or register, meticulously compiled to establish the identity, legitimacy, and numbers of the restored covenant community in Jerusalem after the completion of the wall.

Nehemiah 7 13 Context

Nehemiah 7 details a critical administrative act after the completion of Jerusalem's wall. Recognizing that "the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and no houses had been built" (Neh 7:4), Nehemiah receives divine inspiration to conduct a census. This chapter records "the register of the genealogy of those who came up first," essentially re-listing the families and individuals who initially returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel.

This roster serves multiple crucial purposes: It identifies those who are legitimately part of the restored covenant community, particularly essential for matters of land ownership, religious service (especially priests and Levites whose lineage had to be impeccable), and civic duties. It's a foundational document for rebuilding the societal and spiritual structure of post-exilic Judah, distinguishing true Israelites from other peoples who had settled in the land and preventing unauthorized claims. The list underscores the importance of identity and heritage in God's redemptive plan for His people.

Nehemiah 7 13 Word analysis

• The children of: Hebrew: בְּנֵי (b'nei). Literally "sons of." This signifies not just immediate offspring but "descendants" or "members of the household/clan." In ancient Israel, identity was primarily corporate and tribal. Belonging to a "house" or "family" was fundamental for social, legal, and religious standing. This term connects individuals to a specific ancestral line, establishing their lineage and rightful place within the community of Israel, tracing their heritage back through their forefathers. This echoes the significance of Abraham's seed in God's promises (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:5).

• Zattu: Hebrew: זַתּוּא (Zattu). This is the proper name of an individual, likely a prominent ancestor or the head of a family line, whose descendants returned from exile. The presence of his name indicates a recognized family unit within the larger Israelite tribal structure. Families like Zattu's were crucial for re-populating Jerusalem and the surrounding regions, ensuring the continuity of the covenant people. Their verifiable lineage affirmed their claim to the land and participation in the reconstructed temple worship.

• eight hundred forty and five: Hebrew: שְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה (sh'moneh me'ot arbaim v'chamisha). This precise numerical figure is not arbitrary. It represents a meticulously kept administrative record, vital for a community striving to re-establish itself on firm legal and divine grounds. Such exact numbers would have been used for land allocation, determining service rosters for the temple, and assessing population density. The slightly different number (945) in Ezra 2:8 for the same family does not negate the significance of precision; instead, it might indicate slightly different counting times or scribal variations, yet the emphasis remains on the diligent and detailed accounting of the returnees, underscoring the ordered and organized nature of the rebuilt community under God's watchful care. This demonstrates a human effort to reflect divine order.

• The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five: This phrase combines lineage with precise enumeration. It confirms that the returned community was structured by family units and that each family's size was known. This organizational effort reflected the broader divine intention for an orderly and pure remnant. The emphasis on individual families contributed to the cohesion and accountability of the post-exilic community, preventing infiltration by those not of true Israelite lineage and ensuring proper religious and civic functions were assigned. It underscores the concept of belonging and validated participation in God's unfolding plan.

Nehemiah 7 13 Bonus section

• The discrepancies in numbers between Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 (e.g., 945 for Zattu in Ezra vs. 845 in Nehemiah) are a common subject of scholarly discussion. They are typically understood as minor textual variations, different counting moments (perhaps one group died or new individuals joined before a final count), or a deliberate scribal abbreviation rather than major contradictions. The essential point for both texts remains the purpose of the list: to affirm and preserve the authentic lineage and identity of the returning exiles.
• This detailed register reflects a broader biblical principle of divine remembrance and order. Just as God keeps meticulous records (e.g., the "book of life"), His people are encouraged to maintain order in their community.
• The emphasis on family names and numbers in Nehemiah reinforces the covenantal understanding that God's promises were often realized through specific lineages (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David).
• The inclusion of such specific figures allowed for precise allocation of land and resources upon their return, ensuring fairness and establishing social order, mirroring God's character as a God of order.

Nehemiah 7 13 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:13, while seemingly just a line in a long list of names and numbers, carries profound theological and practical weight. It is part of the "Great Register," a detailed roll of returning exiles foundational to the re-establishment of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. Each numerical entry, like that for the children of Zattu, speaks to God's covenant faithfulness in preserving a remnant of His people through seventy years of exile and bringing them back to their promised land. It illustrates the meticulousness required in both human administration and divine orchestration to rebuild not just physical walls but a people—their identity, their religious purity, and their adherence to the Law. The very act of counting and cataloging ensures legitimate membership, thereby safeguarding against dilution of their covenant identity and upholding the integrity of the sacred functions within the newly forming Israelite society. This process underscored the importance of identity, belonging, and the continued line of God's chosen people, crucial for the future coming of the Messiah.