Nehemiah 7 30

Nehemiah 7:30 kjv

The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

Nehemiah 7:30 nkjv

the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;

Nehemiah 7:30 niv

of Ramah and Geba ? 621

Nehemiah 7:30 esv

The men of Ramah and Geba, 621.

Nehemiah 7:30 nlt

The people of Ramah and Geba ? 621

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 30 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:30 states that "the children of Azmaveth" numbered forty-two individuals among those who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah. This verse is part of a comprehensive registry detailing the families and their numerical strength, which formed the nucleus of the restored community under Nehemiah's leadership. It signifies the faithful preservation and return of a specific lineage as God orchestrated the restoration of His people.

Nehemiah 7 30 Context

Nehemiah chapter 7 presents a meticulous genealogical register of those who returned to Judah from Babylonian captivity. This chapter immediately follows the completion of the wall of Jerusalem, and Nehemiah's focus shifts from external protection to internal organization and spiritual life. The registry, parallel to Ezra 2, serves several critical purposes: it identifies the true Israelites entitled to reside in the land and partake in temple worship, ensures the purity of the priesthood, enables the allocation of resources and lands, and re-establishes civic order. Verse 30, "the children of Azmaveth, forty-two," is a precise entry within this vital record, demonstrating the careful accounting of families who resettled the land after decades of exile, affirming their identity and lineage within the restored community.

Nehemiah 7 30 Word analysis

• the children of: Hebrew bĕnê (בְּנֵ֣י). This term literally means "sons of," but is commonly used in genealogies to denote descendants or members of a particular family or clan. Its use here underscores the importance of lineage and hereditary identity for the post-exilic community. This highlights the continuity of the Israelite identity across generations and the divine preservation of family lines even through exile.

• Azmaveth: Hebrew `Azmāweth (עַזְמָ֑וֶת). This is both a personal name and, by extension, refers to a place, often interpreted as the village associated with that family. The name can mean "strength of death" or "strong one of death," though its etymology is not central to the narrative here. An Azmaveth is mentioned as a Benjamite in 1 Chr 12:3 and 2 Sam 23:31, implying this family might have roots in that tribe. Their inclusion indicates a known, identifiable group with ancestral ties to Judah or Benjamin, reinforcing the re-establishment of the historical land tenure.

• forty-two: Hebrew `arba‘îm wĕshĕnayim (אַרְבָּעִ֨ים וּשְׁנַ֔יִם). This precise number indicates meticulous record-keeping. It signifies the exact numerical strength of this particular family contingent. The inclusion of specific numbers throughout the register emphasizes the concreteness of the restoration and the re-populating of the land.

• "the children of Azmaveth, forty-two": This phrase, typical of the census format, serves as an official entry documenting a distinct family unit within the larger returned exiles. It reflects the meticulous and detailed organizational efforts initiated by Nehemiah. This systematic identification was crucial for defining the post-exilic community, for establishing land ownership, for maintaining ritual purity (especially for priests), and for fulfilling responsibilities like taxation and contributions to the Temple. This entire registry highlights the emphasis on corporate identity and divinely ordained order in the reconstructed society.

Nehemiah 7 30 Bonus section

The almost verbatim parallelism between Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2 underscores the accuracy and importance of these genealogical records. Minor discrepancies between the two accounts (e.g., slight variations in numbers or spellings in some verses, though not this specific verse) are common in ancient manuscripts and are often attributed to scribal variations, different counting methodologies, or differing focuses in slightly variant versions of a shared source document. Such variations do not undermine the historical authenticity or divine inspiration of the text, but rather highlight the ancient methods of record-keeping. The inclusion of families like "the children of Azmaveth" shows that even smaller family groups, perhaps without prominent leaders, were acknowledged and valued in the eyes of the meticulous record-keepers and, ultimately, in the sight of God, demonstrating His care for every member of His flock. The registry, as a whole, sets the stage for the public reading of the Law in Nehemiah 8, as it ensured that only legitimate members of the covenant community were present to hear and commit to its requirements.

Nehemiah 7 30 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:30, as part of a detailed census, highlights God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant people through exile and meticulously bringing them back to their land. It underscores the practical organization required for the re-establishment of the Judean community and worship. This census was not merely administrative; it validated individual and familial identities within the restored covenant community. The specific numbering, down to the individuals in small families like Azmaveth's, emphasizes God's personal attention to His people, valuing each one in the collective body. This precise documentation laid the foundation for religious, social, and economic order in Jerusalem. It ensured accountability, confirmed heritage for future generations, and paved the way for adherence to the Law, especially concerning temple service and land allocation.