Nehemiah 7 64

Nehemiah 7:64 kjv

These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

Nehemiah 7:64 nkjv

These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.

Nehemiah 7:64 niv

These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

Nehemiah 7:64 esv

These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

Nehemiah 7:64 nlt

They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 64 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:64 describes a group of individuals who, despite claiming priestly heritage, were unable to authenticate their lineage through documented genealogical records. Due to this lack of verifiable proof, they were disqualified from performing their priestly duties, as their unconfirmed status rendered them ritually "unclean" for sacred service in the temple.

Nehemiah 7 64 Context

Nehemiah chapter 7 details the precise enumeration of the returnees from Babylonian exile, serving as a continuation and expansion of the register found in Ezra 2. Following the successful rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership, this census was crucial for re-establishing civic and religious order in the repatriated community. The careful documentation of families, tribes, and specific classes (like priests and Levites) ensured proper administration, land allocation, and especially the accurate manning of the revitalized temple services. Verse 64 addresses a specific challenge faced by a subset of individuals who claimed priestly ancestry but could not provide documentary proof from the official genealogical records, leading to their exclusion from the sacred office due to concerns of purity and legitimate lineage.

Nehemiah 7 64 Word analysis

• These (אֵ֛לֶּה - 'elleh): Refers specifically to the "sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai" mentioned in the preceding verse (v. 63). This term underscores a distinct group with a shared, yet unproven, claim to priestly lineage.
• searched for (בִּקְשׁ֖וּ - biqqešû): From the verb baqash, meaning to seek, search diligently, or inquire. This suggests an active and potentially desperate effort on their part to locate their records. It implies the importance placed on these written proofs.
• their registration (כְּתָבָ֑ם - kᵉtāḇām): From katab, meaning a written record or document. It refers to official family registers or lineage lists. The suffix '-am' means "their," specifying these were documents pertaining directly to their family history. It emphasizes the critical role of verifiable, written documentation.
• among those enrolled (עַל־הַמִּתְיַחְשִׁ֑ים - ‘al-hammityyaḥšîm): From the root yaḥaś, meaning to be enrolled by lineage or to trace one's genealogy. This is a technical term indicating inclusion in an authoritative and formally maintained genealogical record. It points to the community's meticulous approach to record-keeping for identity and status.
• in the genealogies (plural form inferred from hammityyaḥšîm): Reinforces the existence of extensive, authoritative family records and the community's reliance on them for establishing proper lineage.
• but they were not found there (וְלֹא֙ נִמְצְא֣וּ שָׁ֑ם - wᵉlō' nimṣᵉ’û šām): "Not found" (nimṣᵉ’û, passive voice of matsa meaning "to find") clearly indicates the absence of their names in the official lists. This absence was decisive and objectively verifiable. It implies that a lack of verifiable record was tantamount to not having the required lineage at all.
• so they were excluded (וַיְגֹֽאֲלוּ֙ - wayyigə’ălû): From the verb ga'al, which in this context means "to defile," "to make impure," or "to become disqualified due to impurity." It's not merely exclusion due to lack of paperwork, but rather an exclusion based on an assumed ritual impurity because their lineage, and thus their covenant purity for the priesthood, could not be verified. This word carries a strong theological implication: eligibility for holy service required unquestionable purity derived from the proper, designated lineage.
• from the priesthood (מִן־הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה - min-hakkehunnah): The sacred office and duties of a priest. This highlights the high stakes of this ruling – disqualification from the central religious institution of the community.
• as unclean (לֹא מְטֻהָרִֽים - lō’ məṭuhārîm): Literally "not pure" or "not clean." This phrase explicitly states the reason for their exclusion: they were deemed ritually unfit or impure for priestly service because their ancestral purity, essential for this role, could not be confirmed through the authoritative records. This underscored the cultic implications of unverified lineage.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "searched for their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there": This phrase details the rigorous vetting process for priestly claims. It underscores the communal commitment to maintaining genealogical integrity, not for personal status, but for ensuring proper, divinely ordained worship in the re-established temple. The inability to produce such records, despite active searching, represented an objective failure of proof.
• "so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean": This phrase reveals the immediate and significant consequence. The exclusion (wayyigə’ălû) highlights that failure in documentation was not merely a bureaucratic issue but resulted in a state of ritual impurity. For a priest, uncleanness was a critical barrier to performing sacred duties, as it would defile the holy space and God's worship. This decision safeguarded the holiness of the sanctuary and the integrity of the Aaronic priesthood.

Nehemiah 7 64 Bonus Section

• Divine Guidance Expected: The next verse (Neh 7:65) states that these excluded individuals could not eat from the most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim appeared. This points to the expectation that God would provide ultimate clarification through these sacred lots (used for divine revelation, e.g., Exod 28:30; Num 27:21; 1 Sam 28:6), emphasizing that the final authority on matters of priestly legitimacy and purity rested with divine decree, even if direct answers were not immediately available.
• Symbolism of Lineage and Purity: Beyond administrative function, genealogical purity for priests was a deep theological principle. It symbolized the unblemished, separated status required to mediate between a holy God and His people. The potential 'uncleanliness' implied by an unproven lineage could have consequences for the entire community's ritual standing before God.
• Safeguarding against Usurpation: This meticulous checking also served to prevent unauthorized individuals from performing sacred functions, which was historically met with severe divine judgment (e.g., Korah in Numbers 16). The community aimed to avoid past mistakes that had led to their exile, highlighting their earnestness in rebuilding correctly.

Nehemiah 7 64 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:64 underscores the stringent and non-negotiable requirements for priestly service under the Old Covenant. The community's post-exilic commitment to restoring faithful worship according to Mosaic Law meant strict adherence to divinely mandated qualifications, particularly verified Aaronic lineage. For individuals claiming priestly rights, the absence of their names in the official genealogical records was a definitive disqualifier, immediately rendering them ritually "unclean" for temple duties. This decision protected the sanctity of the sanctuary and affirmed that proper authority and purity, not merely self-assertion or tradition, were indispensable for those serving in God's presence. It demonstrated the leaders' unwavering commitment to uphold divine order amidst the complexities of national restoration.