Nehemiah 7 14

Nehemiah 7:14 kjv

The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

Nehemiah 7:14 nkjv

the sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty;

Nehemiah 7:14 niv

of Zakkai ? 760

Nehemiah 7:14 esv

The sons of Zaccai, 760.

Nehemiah 7:14 nlt

The family of Zaccai ? 760

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 14 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:14 states that the sons of Bigvai comprised two thousand fifty-six individuals who returned from the Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. This verse is part of a detailed list enumerating the families and their numbers, documenting the remnant of Israel who re-established the community in Jerusalem and Judah, affirming their lineage and God's faithfulness in bringing them back to their land. It serves as an authoritative record of those foundational families pivotal to the restoration of Judah after seventy years of captivity.

Nehemiah 7 14 Context

Nehemiah chapter 7 is primarily a comprehensive census of the first wave of Jewish exiles who returned from Babylon to Judah under Zerubbabel and Joshua after the decree of Cyrus the Great (circa 538 BC). This list serves as a vital historical record, almost identical to Ezra chapter 2. Nehemiah's purpose for recording this genealogy (Neh 7:5) was prompted by the completed reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls (Neh 6:15), emphasizing the need to properly populate and organize the city. Verse 14, specifically mentioning "the sons of Bigvai" and their number, forms one small but integral part of this detailed accounting, underscoring the specific identity and scale of the returned remnant. This precision in record-keeping was crucial for establishing community structure, land ownership, and confirming eligibility for the priesthood among those rebuilding the post-exilic society in alignment with God's Law. It also highlights the faithfulness of God in preserving a remnant to fulfill His covenant promises to Abraham and David, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His people despite their captivity.

Nehemiah 7 14 Word analysis

• The sons of Bigvai:
  • Sons (בְּנֵי - bĕnê): Plural construct of 'בן' (ben), meaning "son." Here, it signifies descendants, forming a clan or family unit. This emphasizes collective identity and inherited status, crucial for tribal affiliations and lineage verification in ancient Israelite society, especially after exile for establishing community structure and confirming temple service eligibility.
  • Bigvai (בִּגְוַי - Bigvay): A proper noun, likely a Persian name (possibly meaning "my packages" or "fortunate"). He was a prominent family head among the exiles, whose descendants numbered significantly. The name's appearance in both Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2 points to its established recognition as a leading family unit that returned. Identifying individuals and their family affiliations was vital for organizing the nascent community, re-establishing land claims, and managing communal responsibilities.
  • "The sons of Bigvai" as a phrase: This construct "sons of [leader's name]" is a common ancient Near Eastern way to denote a lineage or a clan named after its patriarchal head. It signifies a distinct social and organizational unit within the returned community. Their return signifies the re-gathering of diverse elements of Israel back to their heritage and homeland, embodying God's promise to restore His people.
• two thousand fifty-six:
  • two thousand (אַלְפַּיִם - 'alpāyim): Dual form of 'אלף' (eleph), "thousand." Indicates a substantial number, denoting a large contributing group to the restoration effort.
  • fifty-six (חֲמִשִּׁים וְשֵׁשׁ - chamishim veshēsh): Specific numerical detail. The inclusion of exact figures, even down to single digits, suggests a meticulous record-keeping effort. This level of precision, while slightly varying between Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 (often attributed to copyist variations, different times of census taking, or rounded numbers), underscores the administrative diligence of the scribes (like Nehemiah himself and Ezra) and the importance placed on this record. This attention to numerical detail provides authenticity to the account and highlights the tangible size of the returned remnant. It demonstrates that the return was not a sporadic migration but an organized, divinely orchestrated resettlement of a defined community.

Nehemiah 7 14 Bonus section

The lists in Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2 are remarkably similar but contain slight numerical discrepancies for several family groups, including Bigvai. In Nehemiah 7:14, Bigvai's descendants are listed as 2,056, while in Ezra 2:14, they are also 2,056. However, if the full sum of individual numbers in Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2 are tallied, the grand total of all individuals differs by 360 (Ezra 2 lists 42,360 total; Nehemiah 7 lists 49,942 by adding up individual entries, but provides 42,360 in the final summary statement for both lists, similar to Ezr 2:64). Scholars propose various reasons for such differences, including:

1. Different censuses/enrollments: The lists might have been compiled at slightly different times or places (e.g., initial return vs. later census in Jerusalem), or represent different ways of counting (e.g., all individuals vs. only adult males).
2. Copyist variations: During the transmission of ancient texts, minor scribal errors could occur.
3. Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Different criteria for inclusion at the time of compilation, or rounding.
4. Purpose: While Ezra’s list focused on initial returnees for temple building, Nehemiah’s (taken nearly a century later but based on Ezra's document) confirmed the legitimacy for settling the repopulated Jerusalem.

Despite these minor numerical variations, the striking consistency confirms the historicity and administrative purpose of these lists. They highlight the rigorous commitment of scribes like Nehemiah and Ezra to preserve the precise lineage and number of those foundational individuals upon whom the renewed Israelite society was built. This attention to detail underscores the biblical emphasis on historical accuracy and divine oversight in the re-establishment of the covenant community, a vital pre-condition for the subsequent restoration of temple worship and the re-instatement of God's Law.

Nehemiah 7 14 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:14, by recording the family of Bigvai and their specific number of 2,056 returnees, serves as a testament to the divine orchestrations of post-exilic Judah. This seemingly dry statistical entry is part of a crucial administrative and theological document. It validates the legitimacy and identity of the rebuilt community, confirming who belonged to the covenant people, ensuring proper distribution of resources, and upholding the purity of the priesthood. The precise counting reflects God's meticulous care for His covenant people and the orderly way in which He brought them back to their land as prophesied. It underpins the reality of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to gather and restore His scattered flock, rebuilding them not just physically but as a distinct people. This detail ensures that the returning population was composed of legitimate Israelites who could reclaim their inheritance and religious practices.