Nehemiah 7:34 kjv
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
Nehemiah 7:34 nkjv
the sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
Nehemiah 7:34 niv
of the other Elam ? 1,254
Nehemiah 7:34 esv
The sons of the other Elam, 1,254.
Nehemiah 7:34 nlt
The citizens of West Elam ? 1,254
Nehemiah 7 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezra 2:32 | "The sons of Harim, 320." | Parallel list confirming the same number. |
| Ezra 2:39 | "The sons of Jeshua...of the sons of Immer, of the sons of Pashhur... and the sons of Harim..." | Mentions priestly descendants from Harim's line. |
| Neh 3:11 | "Malchijah the son of Harim... repaired another section." | Harim's descendants active in rebuilding the wall. |
| Neh 10:5 | "...Harim..." | A leader from the Harim family sealing the covenant. |
| 1 Chr 9:1-2 | "So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies... when they were carried away captive to Babylon." | Emphasis on comprehensive genealogical records. |
| Num 1:1-3 | "The Lord spoke to Moses... Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel..." | Importance of tribal censuses in ancient Israel. |
| Gen 10:32 | "These are the clans of the sons of Noah..." | Demonstrates the biblical precedent for family and clan lists. |
| Mt 1:1-2 | "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." | Jesus' lineage highlighting the importance of ancestry. |
| Lk 3:23-24 | "Jesus... being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli..." | Another detailed genealogy, showing specific family lines. |
| Isa 10:20-22 | "A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob..." | Prophecy of a faithful remnant returning from exile. |
| Jer 23:3 | "Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries... and bring them back." | God's promise to regather His scattered people. |
| Zech 8:12 | "For the seed shall be prosperous... and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these." | Blessings and security for the returned remnant. |
| Rom 9:27-28 | "Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number... is like the sand of the sea, only a remnant...'" | Paul applies the remnant principle to New Testament Israel. |
| Ezra 1:5 | "Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah... and the priests and the Levites..." | Readiness of the exiles to return and rebuild. |
| Ezra 3:1-2 | "When the seventh month came... the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem." | Collective return for restoration of worship. |
| Jer 29:10-14 | "For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed... I will fulfill my promise..." | Prophecy concerning the duration of exile and future return. |
| Ps 106:44-46 | "Yet he regarded their distress... and remembered for them his covenant..." | God's faithfulness and compassion in restoring His people. |
| Deut 30:3-5 | "Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you..." | Promise of restoration and return from dispersion. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | New Testament perspective on spiritual identity in God. |
| Eph 2:19-20 | "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints..." | Believers are incorporated into God's spiritual household. |
| Heb 12:22-23 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God... and to the assembly of the firstborn." | Spiritual counterpart to earthly restoration, citizenship in heavenly Jerusalem. |
| Gal 3:28-29 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek... For you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Emphasizes spiritual unity and belonging to Christ's family. |
Nehemiah 7 verses
Nehemiah 7 34 Meaning
Nehemiah 7:34 records the number of people belonging to the family of Harim, specifically three hundred and twenty, who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah. This detail is part of a meticulous register establishing the identity and numbers of the returning exiles, which was foundational for re-establishing the community, allocating land, and structuring society in the post-exilic period. It signifies the faithfulness of God in preserving a remnant of His people and fulfilling His promises of restoration.
Nehemiah 7 34 Context
Nehemiah chapter 7 presents a meticulously compiled genealogical list of those who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. This chapter serves as a crucial bridge in the narrative of Nehemiah, connecting the successful physical rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls (chapters 1-6) with the subsequent spiritual restoration and social re-ordering of the community (chapters 8-13). Following the completion of the wall and before the great spiritual revival under Ezra, Nehemiah understood the importance of knowing exactly who constituted the true covenant community in Jerusalem. The census outlined in this chapter was not merely administrative; it was vital for establishing legitimate claims to ancestral land, confirming rights for temple service, maintaining social order, and reinforcing the distinct identity of the returned exiles against surrounding populations. This list closely mirrors that found in Ezra 2, serving to validate and solidify the foundations of the rebuilt nation.
Nehemiah 7 34 Word analysis
- the sons of:
- Original Hebrew: בְּנֵי (b'nei), the plural construct form of בֵּן (ben), meaning "son."
- Significance: This phrase clearly denotes a lineage or family group descending from a common patriarch. In ancient Israelite society, patrilineal descent was paramount for identity, inheritance, tribal affiliation, and often for determining roles in community life and worship. Its use here underscores the continuity of family units across generations and their collective return from exile as a recognized clan.
- Harim:
- Original Hebrew: חָרִים (Harim).
- Meaning: A proper name, potentially derived from a root meaning "consecrated," "dedicated," or "devoted." This is noteworthy as the name could hint at a family's historical association with sacred duties.
- Significance: Harim represents a distinct family or clan. This name appears frequently in post-exilic records (e.g., Ezra 2, Neh 3, Neh 10), indicating their prominence and ongoing involvement in the rebuilding efforts, community life, and potentially temple service. The consistent mention across these records suggests their importance in maintaining the social and religious fabric of the returned community.
- 320:
- Original Hebrew: שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת וְעֶשְׂרִים (shlosh me'ot v'esrim).
- Significance: This precise numerical figure, rather than a rounded estimate, speaks to the meticulous nature of the record-keeping. It indicates an accurate count of individuals from this particular family. Such specificity was crucial for census purposes, allocation of resources, and confirming membership within the renewed community. It grounds the abstract idea of a "remnant" in a tangible, verifiable reality of the post-exilic population, affirming the Lord's restoration.
Word-group analysis: "the sons of Harim, 320"
This entire phrase succinctly identifies a specific family and its demographic strength upon their return. "The sons of Harim" establishes a foundational unit of the Israelite social structure—the extended family or clan—emphasizing their shared heritage and collective identity. The accompanying "320" quantifies this unit, transforming an abstract concept of return into a concrete reality. This detail, within a longer list, affirms the deliberate, organized repopulation of Jerusalem and the surrounding territories. It underscores the importance of legitimate lineage for belonging to the covenant community, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in gathering and restoring His chosen people with order and purpose.
Nehemiah 7 34 Bonus section
- Consistency with Ezra: The count for the "sons of Harim" in Nehemiah 7:34 matches exactly with Ezra 2:32, standing at 320. This consistency, in contrast to some minor discrepancies found in other family counts between the two lists, lends specific credibility to this particular figure and highlights the diligent record-keeping of the returned community.
- Administrative and Spiritual Significance: The meticulous nature of this register reveals that the process of return from exile involved not just faith and spiritual desire but also rigorous administrative and demographic planning. This blend underscores that God's work often involves both divine sovereignty and human orderliness. The census helped delineate who had a rightful claim to land, priestly duties, or Levite services, ensuring purity in lineage which was crucial for maintaining covenant integrity in a world of mixed populations.
- Focus on Identity: These genealogical lists, like Neh 7:34, are central to the overarching biblical theme of identity. In the Old Testament, physical lineage determined Israelite identity and a place in God's earthly kingdom. While the New Testament transitions to a spiritual lineage through Christ (Gal 3:28-29), the OT emphasis highlights God's historical care in preserving a distinct people, foreshadowing the divine intention for a holy people—a chosen race—set apart for His purposes.
Nehemiah 7 34 Commentary
Nehemiah 7:34, as an entry in a lengthy genealogical register, is far more than a mere numerical fact. It profoundly underlines God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to preserve a remnant of His people and return them to their land after exile. Each listed family, including "the sons of Harim," represents a foundational block in the meticulous process of restoring not just a city wall, but a legitimate, covenant-keeping community. The very act of numbering these families confirms the divine promise of restoration and re-establishes an ordered society, necessary for effective worship and the continued observance of God's Law. This chapter served to bring order, provide legitimacy for land claims and temple service, and foster a unified, distinct identity for the post-exilic Israelites, paving the way for spiritual revival and adherence to the covenant. Practically, it exemplifies the importance of accountability, clear identity, and structured community for any spiritual undertaking or societal rebuilding, emphasizing that God cares for details and order in His Kingdom work.