Nehemiah 7 37

Nehemiah 7:37 kjv

The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.

Nehemiah 7:37 nkjv

the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one;

Nehemiah 7:37 niv

of Lod, Hadid and Ono ? 721

Nehemiah 7:37 esv

The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721.

Nehemiah 7:37 nlt

The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono ? 721

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 37 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:37 records the specific count of the returnees from the Babylonian exile who identified with the towns of Lod, Hadid, and Ono. This verse, as part of a comprehensive list in Nehemiah chapter 7, highlights the meticulous administrative record-keeping essential for re-establishing the post-exilic Israelite community and rebuilding Jerusalem. It underscores the precision of the census and the diverse geographical origins of those who returned.

Nehemiah 7 37 Context

Nehemiah 7 is a pivotal chapter, meticulously detailing a census of those who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel, approximately a century before Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem. This list largely mirrors the one found in Ezra 2. The purpose of recording these genealogies and counts was multi-faceted: to establish the legitimate residents of Jerusalem and Judah, ensure proper allocation of tribal lands, determine eligibility for priestly and Levitical service, and verify claims of return. Nehemiah rediscovers this old register after the walls are rebuilt and Jerusalem needs repopulation. The chapter emphasizes order, lineage, and the re-establishment of the covenant community, ensuring that the identity and purity of the Israelite people are preserved as they settle back in the promised land and begin the processes of temple and community rebuilding. Verse 37 specifically details a smaller grouping of returnees associated with three neighboring towns, contributing to the comprehensive accounting.

Nehemiah 7 37 Word analysis

• The children of:

  • Hebrew: bənê (בְּנֵי)
  • Meaning: Sons of, descendants of, or people associated with/inhabiting. In this context, it signifies a communal or family group originating from or identified with these towns, rather than necessarily direct offspring of a single person. It emphasizes corporate identity and historical lineage.
  • Significance: Highlights the identity and origin of the returnees, linking them back to specific geographic and social units within ancient Israel. This demonstrates organized return and re-establishment based on prior associations.

• Lod:

  • Hebrew: Lōḏ (לֹד)
  • Meaning: A town in the tribal territory of Benjamin/Ephraim, southwest of Samaria. Known in later periods as Lydda.
  • Significance: One of the three significant towns mentioned together, implying a clustered community. Its inclusion underscores the scattered nature of the exile and the extent of the re-gathering across various former tribal territories.

• Hadid:

  • Hebrew: Ḥāḏîḏ (חָדִיד)
  • Meaning: Another town in the same general region as Lod and Ono.
  • Significance: Confirms the geographical proximity of these returnee groups and their historical connections. These were practical groupings for resettlement.

• and Ono:

  • Hebrew: wəʾŌnōh (וְאוֹנוֹ)
  • Meaning: "and Ono," another town in the plain of Sharon, also near Lod and Hadid, often mentioned with them (e.g., 1 Chr 8:12, Neh 6:2).
  • Significance: These three towns represent a specific demographic block of returnees. Their persistent association in lists (like Ezra 2 and Neh 7) indicates a strong shared identity among these specific exilic families/communities.

• seven hundred twenty-one:

  • Hebrew: šəḇaʿ mēʾôt wəʿeśrîm wəʾeḥāḏ (שֶׁבַע מֵאוֹת וְעֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד)
  • Meaning: A precise numerical count.
  • Significance: The specificity of the number, down to the individual, indicates meticulous record-keeping. This reflects the administrative rigor of the returning exiles and the divine providence in preserving a remnant. It shows the concrete fulfillment of prophecies regarding return and emphasizes the human agents in God's redemptive plan. The slight variance with Ezra 2:33 (725) is common in ancient transcriptions of large lists, highlighting the overall intent of accuracy rather than modern statistical precision.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono": This phrase functions as a demographic identifier. It groups individuals by their ancestral town of origin, demonstrating the preservation of identity and community ties even through generations of exile. This highlights a critical aspect of post-exilic Israelite identity – rooting oneself in the ancestral land and its established settlements.
• "seven hundred twenty-one": This is the quantitative data point, critical for the census's purpose. It signifies the collective strength of this particular group's contribution to the re-population and re-establishment efforts in Judah. The specific number implies an administrative process, crucial for determining land allocations, military service, or communal responsibilities, reinforcing the tangible, historical reality of the return.

Nehemiah 7 37 Bonus section

The consistent listing of these specific towns (Lod, Hadid, and Ono) across different post-exilic registers indicates that these areas, though relatively small, were significant population centers that had maintained their distinct identity even during exile. This preservation of localized communal identity suggests enduring networks and loyalty to place among the Judean exiles, aiding their organized return. This also implicitly served a polemic against the idea of Israel's complete annihilation or loss of identity, showing a concrete and documented survival and restoration of a distinct people, linked by their historical lineage and territorial claims. Such meticulous lists were crucial in ancient societies to establish lineage and rights, acting as proof of belonging to the returned remnant, essential for establishing true "Israelite" identity post-exile against any opposing claims.

Nehemiah 7 37 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:37, though a simple numerical entry, is profound in its context. It's not a standalone theological declaration, but a vital piece of the administrative jigsaw puzzle that reconstructs post-exilic Israel. The verse's precision regarding "the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono" and their exact number (721) reflects the painstaking effort to account for every returnee. This meticulous record-keeping underscored the integrity and legitimacy of the re-established community, crucial for their land claims, tax responsibilities, and eligibility for sacred service. The census in Nehemiah 7, paralleling Ezra 2, serves as a divine testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of restoration to His covenant people, even down to the individual counts. It emphasizes that the return from exile was not chaotic but a divinely ordained, organized repatriation, ensuring that "the whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty" (Neh 7:66). This careful documentation laid the groundwork for the social, economic, and religious reordering of the nation. It highlights that every individual, regardless of their hometown, mattered in God's grand plan for the renewal of Jerusalem and Judah.