Nehemiah 7 6

Nehemiah 7:6 kjv

These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

Nehemiah 7:6 nkjv

These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.

Nehemiah 7:6 niv

These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

Nehemiah 7:6 esv

These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.

Nehemiah 7:6 nlt

Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 6 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:6 serves as a precise historical introduction to the detailed genealogical list that follows. It identifies the people about to be enumerated as the faithful remnant who endured the Babylonian exile under Nebuchadnezzar, emphasizing their specific historical origin. This verse establishes that these individuals, unlike other inhabitants, were the descendants of those whom God had sovereignly allowed to be carried into captivity as judgment, yet now were graciously returned to their ancestral land and towns in Jerusalem and Judah, thereby fulfilling divine promises of restoration and re-establishing the covenant community in their God-given inheritance.

Nehemiah 7 6 Context

Nehemiah 7:6 serves as the vital preface to the extensive genealogical register of returnees, a list that runs from verse 7 to 73. Immediately preceding this, Nehemiah had completed the formidable task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 6). With the city physically secured, Nehemiah’s attention shifts to repopulating it and organizing its people, recognizing that a city is not just bricks but its inhabitants. Nehemiah 7:5 states that God put it into his heart to assemble the nobles, officials, and the people to record their genealogies. This act was crucial for re-establishing the civic, religious, and social order of the community after the exile, ensuring that proper lineage was maintained for priestly and Levitical service, and that property rights to ancestral lands in Judah were properly recognized for all returnees. The historical detail of verse 6 explicitly ties the current community to their exiled ancestors, underscoring their continuity as the covenant people and highlighting the fulfillment of prophecies concerning their restoration.

Nehemiah 7 6 Word analysis

• These: (Heb. אֵלֶּה, `elleh) This demonstrative pronoun directly points to the detailed list of names and numbers that immediately follows (Neh 7:7-73). It signifies that the ensuing record is an authentic account of specific individuals. Its use here anchors the register in a historical reality, confirming it as a verifiable record of the returned community.
• are the people: (Heb. אַנְשֵׁי, `anshei) The term "men of" or "people of" signifies a collective, organized body of individuals. It is not just a random assortment but an identifiable community with shared lineage and purpose. This underscores the intentional and structured nature of their return, emphasizing their identity as a united remnant.
• of the province: (Heb. הַמְּדִינָה, `hamedina) This refers to "Yehud" (Judah), the administrative province within the Persian Empire. This designation is significant as it highlights their political status under foreign dominion. It signifies that their return and settlement were recognized within the broader imperial structure, albeit with a degree of internal autonomy. It contrasts with a fully independent nation, showing their continued subjugation while emphasizing their established territory.
• who came up: (Heb. עָלוּ, `alu) Literally, "ascended" or "went up." This is the customary biblical term for journeying to Jerusalem due to its elevated geographical position and, more importantly, its spiritual significance as God's holy city. It implies not merely physical migration but a pilgrimage, often connected to divine leading and a desire for spiritual restoration and worship in God's dwelling place. The term "Aliyah" (going up) continues to be used today for Jewish immigration to Israel.
• out of the captivity: (Heb. מִן הַשְּׁבִי, min hashvi) "From the captivity" denotes the specific state of being taken prisoner and exiled. This term vividly recalls the forced displacement and suffering experienced by the people, setting the backdrop for their miraculous return. It emphasizes the contrast between their former bondage and their current freedom.
• of those exiles: (Heb. הַגּוֹלָה, hagolah) Refers to "the exile" or "the deported community." This phrase reinforces the preceding "captivity" and identifies the precise group being described – the specific Jewish population deported by Babylon. It differentiates them from other groups, stressing their unique experience of divine judgment followed by divine grace. The double emphasis on "captivity" and "exiles" underscores the severity and the historical particularity of their ordeal.
• whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away: (Heb. נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל הֶגְלָה, Nevukhadnetzar melekh Bavel heglah) This specifies the exact historical agent and event of the deportation. Nebuchadnezzar was the king who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and forcibly exiled the Jewish people. This detail ensures historical accuracy and directly links the current returnees to the prophesied judgment and subsequent promised restoration (e.g., Jer 29:10). It authenticates the return as the fulfillment of God’s plan, showing His sovereign control over nations and their kings.
• and who returned: (Heb. וַיָּשׁוּבוּ, vayashuvu) This signifies a deliberate act of coming back to dwell and re-establish life. It's more than just a visit; it denotes a permanent settlement and reversal of their former displacement. It conveys the concept of restoration, implying the reversal of judgment and the recommencement of covenant life in the land.
• to Jerusalem and Judah: These are the specific geographical targets of their return. Jerusalem was the capital, the spiritual heart, and the center of the Jewish nation, home to the rebuilt Temple. Judah was the broader territorial inheritance of the southern kingdom, where the exiled people would re-establish their communities. This specification highlights the precise and localized nature of the divine promises and their fulfillment.
• each to his own town: (Heb. אִישׁ לְעִירוֹ, ish leiro) This emphasizes the organized and decentralized nature of the resettlement. It reflects the continuation of ancient Israelite tribal and family land inheritance (Ex. Num 34; Josh 13-19). This meticulous detail underscores the restoration of order, familial ties, and the claim to ancestral lands, reinforcing their identity within a territorial and genealogical framework. It ensured proper land tenure and communal belonging.

Nehemiah 7 6 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "people of the province" (אנשי המדינה) and their return to "Jerusalem and Judah" shows the geo-political reality of their partial autonomy under Persian rule, a key aspect of the Second Temple period. This careful naming establishes their legitimate status and land rights within the Persian empire's framework.
• The repetition and specific naming of "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon" ties this event directly to historical biblical prophecy regarding the exile (Jeremiah) and Daniel's historical context, providing strong verifiable markers for the veracity of the account. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over history.
• The meticulous register introduced by this verse, mirrored in Ezra 2, reveals the strong post-exilic emphasis on lineage, tribal identity, and land inheritance. This was vital not only for maintaining property rights but also for priestly purity, confirming those who could legitimately serve in the re-established Temple, pointing to the significance of proper spiritual leadership.
• The concept of a "remnant" who "came up" from exile has profound theological implications, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving a faithful core of His people even through severe judgment, preparing them for continued covenantal relationship and ultimately, the coming of the Messiah.

Nehemiah 7 6 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:6 serves as a foundational verse, framing the subsequent genealogical record by precisely identifying the people documented: they are the historical remnant who returned from the severe Babylonian exile instigated by Nebuchadnezzar. This detailed introduction is not mere historical flourish but essential for affirming the identity, legitimacy, and continuity of the post-exilic community in Jerusalem. It underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of restoration after judgment (Jer 29:10). The meticulous return "each to his own town" highlights an organized re-establishment rooted in their ancestral land claims, crucial for rebuilding a cohesive and biblically-ordered society around the Temple and the re-fortified city walls. This verse signifies the pivotal moment of God re-gathering His scattered people to reclaim their inheritance and revive their covenant life.