Nehemiah 7:32 kjv
The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
Nehemiah 7:32 nkjv
the men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three;
Nehemiah 7:32 niv
of Bethel and Ai ? 123
Nehemiah 7:32 esv
The men of Bethel and Ai, 123.
Nehemiah 7:32 nlt
The people of Bethel and Ai ? 123
Nehemiah 7 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 7:12 | The men of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. | Refers to another, likely distinct, "Elam" group. |
| Ezra 2:3 | The sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. | Parallel genealogical list of exiles returning to Judah. |
| Ezra 2:7 | Of the sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four. | Direct parallel in Ezra for the "Elam" family/group. |
| Neh 7:6 | These are the people of the province who came up... | Introduction to the comprehensive list of returnees. |
| Ezra 1:3 | Whoever is among you of all his people... let him go up to Jerusalem. | Cyrus' decree encouraging and enabling the return. |
| Num 1:2 | Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by families. | Establishing a precedent for census taking for national identity. |
| Gen 10:22 | The sons of Shem: Elam and Asshur... | Possible ancient, broad lineage origin of the name Elam. |
| 1 Chr 9:1 | So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the book of the kings of Israel. | Emphasizes the ancient importance of genealogical records for Israel. |
| Ex 6:16 | These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations. | Highlighting the importance of family lines for religious service. |
| Neh 9:2 | And the descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners... | Illustrates the concern for distinct Israelite identity after return. |
| Hag 1:1 | ...the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai...to Zerubbabel... | Prophets encouraging the returnees in their rebuilding efforts. |
| Zech 8:3 | Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. | God's promise of presence with the re-established community. |
| Ezr 7:6 | This Ezra went up from Babylonia... | Acknowledges the leadership in organizing the community. |
| Ezr 2:64 | The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty... | The summation of all the recorded returnees in Ezra. |
| Jer 32:44 | Fields will be bought for money... because I will restore their fortunes. | Prophetic promise of land return and resettlement, requiring such lists. |
| Ez 36:24 | For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. | Prophecy of the exiles' physical return and re-gathering. |
| John 10:3 | The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name... | A spiritual parallel illustrating God's personal knowledge of His own. |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. | New Covenant understanding of spiritual lineage in Christ. |
| Heb 7:3 | Without father or mother, without genealogy... | Contrasts physical lineage, important in OT, with a spiritual reality. |
| Rev 7:4 | And I heard the number of the sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. | Spiritual enumeration of God's people in the New Testament. |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. | Belongs to God's community, paralleling physical belonging of returnees. |
Nehemiah 7 verses
Nehemiah 7 32 Meaning
Nehemiah 7:32 records the specific number of descendants of a group referred to as "the other Elam" who returned from Babylonian captivity to Judea. This verse, part of a meticulous genealogical list, underscores the importance of identity, lineage, and communal belonging for the re-established post-exilic Israelite community in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 7 32 Context
Nehemiah chapter 7 serves as a detailed register, or census, of those who returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah with Zerubbabel. This meticulously recorded list, mirroring that found in Ezra chapter 2, was compiled by Nehemiah after the successful completion of the Jerusalem walls. The purpose was multifold: to identify the legitimate members of the re-establishing community, ensure proper residency in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns, verify ancestral claims (especially for priestly and Levitical service), and assess the financial and human resources available for the ongoing work of restoration. Verse 32 specifically names a particular subgroup, "the men of the other Elam," along with their exact number, demonstrating the rigorous and precise efforts to document every returning family or localized group. This act was vital for establishing social order, land inheritance, and maintaining the purity of the Israelite lineage and worship in the post-exilic period.
Nehemiah 7 32 Word analysis
- the men of: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי bəney). This idiom literally means "sons of," but broadly indicates descendants or members of a specific family, clan, or inhabitants from a particular geographical region. Here, it establishes the group's origin or familial connection within the register.
- the other Elam: (Hebrew: אֵילָם אַחֵר ’Ēylām ’aḥēr).
- Elam: Refers to a prominent name, either a significant ancestor or a specific geographical location from which this group originated. Elam was an ancient kingdom east of Mesopotamia.
- other: (Hebrew: אַחֵר ’aḥēr). This critical qualifier distinguishes this group from another "Elam" mentioned earlier in the same register (Neh 7:12). This signifies careful distinction in record-keeping, highlighting that these are separate entities despite sharing the name. It underscores the precise nature of the census and the importance of verifying unique identities.
- a thousand two hundred fifty and four: The precise numerical count highlights the meticulous detail and accuracy of the census. Such exact figures were essential for planning the repopulation of Jerusalem and other towns, allocating resources, and assigning responsibilities within the re-formed community. It also served as a verifiable record of who legitimately belonged and was entitled to the restored covenantal inheritance and land rights.
Nehemiah 7 32 Bonus section
The inclusion of precise numbers throughout Nehemiah 7, down to individual units, underscores a significant theological point: God's concern for each person within His covenant community. Even within large figures like "a thousand two hundred fifty and four," there is an implied recognition of every returning individual as part of God's redemptive plan. The parallel lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7, though having minor numerical variations, demonstrate the persistent effort over time to establish and maintain an accurate record of those who were true heirs of the promise and part of the re-established nation. This practice reflects the deep biblical value placed on lineage and communal belonging, which also has spiritual parallels in the New Testament concept of the church as the body of Christ, where each member, though unique, contributes to the whole. This diligence in record-keeping for the restoration prefigures God's divine meticulousness in remembering His people.
Nehemiah 7 32 Commentary
Nehemiah 7:32 is a precise demographic entry within a lengthy roster, reflecting the administrative and spiritual concerns of post-exilic Judah. The detailed census, encompassing "the men of the other Elam" among others, highlights the meticulous nature of the record-keeping by Nehemiah and his scribes. This was not mere bureaucracy; it was fundamental for reconstituting Israel as God’s distinct covenant people. The distinction "the other Elam" underscores the importance of precise identity in a community striving for purity and adherence to God's law after exile, guarding against false claims or absorption by surrounding peoples. It enabled proper land distribution, facilitated accurate priestly and Levitical assignments, and fostered a strong communal identity rooted in shared heritage and purpose—the rebuilding of Jerusalem and restoration of pure worship. This census therefore stands as a testimony to God's faithfulness in regathering His scattered people and to their commitment to order and identity under His covenant.