Nehemiah 7 61

Nehemiah 7:61 kjv

And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.

Nehemiah 7:61 nkjv

And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not identify their father's house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel:

Nehemiah 7:61 niv

The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

Nehemiah 7:61 esv

The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:

Nehemiah 7:61 nlt

Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 61 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:61 describes a group of individuals returning from the Babylonian exile from specific settlements—Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer—who faced a significant challenge. Their inability to definitively prove their ancestry by documenting their "fathers' houses" or broader "lineage" cast doubt upon whether they were genuinely of the covenant community of Israel. This lack of verifiable genealogical records was critical, potentially barring them from full participation in the reconstituted Israelite society, especially concerning religious functions or land inheritance.

Nehemiah 7 61 Context

Nehemiah 7:61 is embedded within an extensive record of those who returned to Judah after the Babylonian exile (Neh 7:6-73), a list that closely parallels Ezra 2. Nehemiah, after rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, needed to populate the city and organize its inhabitants for governance and temple service. This required an accurate census and clear identification of who belonged to the covenant community. This specific verse highlights a problematic subset of returnees whose claims to Israelite lineage were unverifiable, creating an immediate challenge for a society acutely aware of the need to maintain ethnic, tribal, and priestly purity after the challenges of exile. The historical context underscores the fragility of identity and the critical importance of documented heritage in re-establishing a society rooted in God's covenant with Israel. Accurate genealogy was not merely administrative; it was fundamental to land claims, tribal identity, temple service eligibility, and validating one's place within the chosen people.

Nehemiah 7 61 Word analysis

• These were the ones who came up: Indicates a group part of the general returnees (עָלָה, alah, to ascend), emphasizing their physical journey from exile back to Judah. However, the subsequent clauses introduce a crucial qualification about their true status.
• from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: These are names of specific localities in Babylon or Mesopotamia where exiled Judeans were settled. "Tel" (תֵּל) typically means "mound" or "hill" formed by successive layers of human habitation. The mention of distinct locations implies that their dispersed residence during exile complicated record-keeping or led to loss of direct connections.
• but they could not declare: (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהַגִּיד, velo yakhlu lehaggid). The Hebrew verb נָגַד (nagad), meaning "to make known," "to report," or "to declare," signifies their inability to produce sufficient evidence or proof. It implies a legal or administrative challenge rather than merely forgetting.
• their fathers' houses: (בֵּית־אֲבֹתָם, beit-abotam). This refers to the patrilineal family units or clans, which formed the basic structure of Israelite society and were crucial for land inheritance and tribal affiliation according to Mosaic Law (e.g., Num 1:2).
• nor their lineage: (זַרְעָם, zar'am, "seed" or "offspring"). This refers to the broader, generational line of descent. Together with "fathers' houses," it covers the full scope of their genealogical identity. Their inability to declare either indicates a comprehensive lack of proof.
• whether they were of Israel: (הֲמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הֵמָּה, hami-yisra'el hemmah). This phrase questions their fundamental identity. It is not just about tribal belonging, but about being part of the covenant community of "Israel"—the people chosen by God. The doubt highlights the supreme importance of belonging to this consecrated nation for the post-exilic community.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "These were the ones... but they could not declare...": This juxtaposition immediately signals a problem. Though physically present with the returning exiles, their rightful place within the covenant community was ambiguous due to missing documentation. It highlights a common tension between mere physical presence and verified identity.
• "Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer... whether they were of Israel.": The named settlements point to the places of exile. Their presence there, separated from the homeland, had evidently led to a rupture in their genealogical records. The ultimate question of "of Israel" shows that their geographical origin (from specific exile settlements) brought into question their very spiritual and national identity.

Nehemiah 7 61 Bonus section

• The meticulous concern for lineage in the post-exilic period speaks to the profound impact of the exile on Israelite identity. Losing land, temple, and political autonomy heightened the need to preserve what remained: their distinct identity as God's covenant people, upheld through faithful adherence to the law, which included precise genealogical records.
• This passage demonstrates the historical struggle of God's people to maintain their identity and purity. While the New Testament reveals a "spiritual Israel" defined by faith in Christ, the Old Testament context often emphasizes physical lineage and community boundaries.
• The fact that these individuals were still permitted to "come up" with the returning exiles suggests an initial leniency or assumption of their Israelite ties, but the subsequent investigation highlights the standard to which the community held itself. It reveals the challenges of reintegrating people who might have had some intermingling during their prolonged exile.

Nehemiah 7 61 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:61 underscores a profound administrative and theological challenge faced by the post-exilic community: verifying true Israelite identity. While a multitude of exiles had physically "come up" from various foreign settlements, the loss or lack of clear genealogical records for some posed a serious crisis. For a community striving to reconstitute itself according to God's covenant and law, every individual's place and rights were intrinsically tied to their verified lineage. Without documented "fathers' houses" and "lineage," doubt emerged regarding "whether they were of Israel," touching the core of their covenant relationship and legal standing. This verse sets the stage for a process of rigorous verification (Neh 7:64) that ensured the purity of the Israelite identity, crucial for proper worship, inheritance, and the very future of the holy nation. This meticulousness reflects the belief that God's people must be clearly defined and distinct, living up to their calling as a chosen generation.