Nehemiah 7:67 kjv
Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
Nehemiah 7:67 nkjv
besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers.
Nehemiah 7:67 niv
besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.
Nehemiah 7:67 esv
besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female.
Nehemiah 7:67 nlt
in addition to 7,337 servants and 245 singers, both men and women.
Nehemiah 7 67 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezr 2:65 | Besides their menservants and their maidservants... singing men and singing women two hundred... | Direct parallel to Neh 7:67. |
| Neh 7:66 | The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand... | Summarizes the census of returnees. |
| Jer 29:10 | For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you... | Prophecy of return from exile fulfilled. |
| Ezr 1:1-3 | Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... to build him a house at Jerusalem. | Cyrus' decree enabling the return. |
| Isa 11:11-12 | The Lord will again recover the remnant of his people... | Prophecy of remnant's return. |
| Zech 8:7-8 | Behold, I will save my people from the land of the east and from the land of the west... | God promises to gather His people. |
| Rom 9:27-28 | Isaiah cries concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved." | Theological concept of a believing remnant. |
| Num 1:2-3 | Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses... | Divine command for a census. |
| Ezr 8:15 | And there I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and we encamped there three days... no Levites. | Importance of Levites for temple service. |
| 1 Chr 9:33 | Now these are the singers, the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, living in the chambers of the temple... | Describes dedicated role of singers. |
| 1 Chr 25:1-7 | David and the chiefs of the service separated for the service... men who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals... | Organization of temple musicians. |
| 2 Chr 5:12-13 | And all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun... to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD. | Role of music in Solomon's temple dedication. |
| Ps 33:3 | Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on strings, with loud shouts. | Encouragement for worship through music. |
| Ps 96:1-2 | Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name... | Universal call to worship and praise. |
| Ps 149:1-3 | Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! | Call to communal praise. |
| Eph 5:19-20 | Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. | New Testament emphasis on singing in worship. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs... | Role of singing in Christian community. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | New Testament remnant as God's people. |
| Ezr 2:55 | The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai... | Mentions different categories of servants returning. |
| Neh 7:60 | All the Nethinim and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392. | Specific count for temple servants. |
| Exo 20:10 | but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant... | Recognition of servants in God's law. |
| Deut 5:14 | You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there... | Remembering past servitude, for fair treatment. |
Nehemiah 7 verses
Nehemiah 7 67 Meaning
This verse details the inclusion of general servants, both male and female, and a specific group of professional singing men and women, within the census of the returning exiles from Babylon. It concludes the comprehensive enumeration of all people who came back to Judah with Zerubbabel, highlighting the full scope of the re-established community, from ordinary households to specialized religious roles.
Nehemiah 7 67 Context
Nehemiah chapter 7 presents a meticulously recorded census of the people who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel at the very beginning of the post-exilic period. This list mirrors the one found in Ezra chapter 2, emphasizing its importance for establishing lineage, claiming ancestral lands, and especially for determining eligibility for priestly and Levitical service. Nehemiah needed this accurate count to reorganize the community, populate Jerusalem (which was largely empty), and assess resources for rebuilding efforts and defensive measures. Verse 67 serves as the final demographic detail before the total summary, accounting for the often-overlooked yet vital categories of general household servants and dedicated temple musicians. This precise enumeration underscores the re-establishment of a functioning society and a formalized worship structure for the returned remnant. Historically, record-keeping was crucial for maintaining identity and rights within a tribal society undergoing resettlement after significant displacement.
Nehemiah 7 67 Word analysis
- besides: (Hebrew: לְבַד, levad). This adverb means "apart from," "alone," or "in addition to." In this context, it emphasizes that these two categories of people—menservants/maidservants and singers—are counted separately and in addition to the previous categories (families by descent, priests, Levites, Nethinim, Solomon's servants). It highlights the thoroughness of the census and distinguishes these groups.
- their menservants and their maidservants: (Hebrew: עַבְדֵיהֶם וְשִׁפְחֹתֵיהֶם, avdeihem v'shiphchoteihem). This refers to general household or personal servants, male and female, distinct from the specific categories of Nethinim (temple servants) or descendants of Solomon's servants mentioned earlier in the list (Neh 7:60). Their presence signifies a level of economic establishment and recovery among the returning families, as they possessed sufficient resources to maintain servants. This reflects the re-emergence of typical social structures.
- seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: (Hebrew: שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁבְעָה). This specific number highlights the meticulousness of the census-takers. The large quantity of servants indicates the substantial labor force available for the enormous rebuilding tasks, as well as the diverse composition of the returning community.
- and they had: This phrasing indicates that the singers were part of, or affiliated with, the larger body of returnees, signifying their integral role in the community's overall structure, particularly concerning public worship.
- two hundred forty-five: (Hebrew: מָאתַיִם אַרְבָּעִים וְחָמֵשׁ, matayim arba'im v'chamesh). A precise count, similar to other numerical details. Notably, this differs slightly from the 200 singers listed in Ezra 2:65. Such minor discrepancies are common in ancient manuscripts and might indicate variations in counting periods, slight scribal differences, or different categories included over time, but they do not undermine the overall historical validity or the significance of the return.
- singing men and singing women: (Hebrew: מְשֹׁרְרִים וּמְשֹׁרְרוֹת, meshorerim u'meshorerot). These were professional musicians, specially trained for their role in temple worship and religious ceremonies. Their inclusion signifies the high importance placed on the aesthetic and spiritual quality of public worship in the rebuilt community. The explicit mention of both "men" and "women" indicates the involvement of both genders in these musical roles within the sacred context. This profession was crucial for re-establishing the grandeur and spiritual fervor of temple worship.
Nehemiah 7 67 Bonus section
The inclusion of professional singers highlights the Jewish people's profound connection to music as a form of worship and spiritual expression, a tradition deeply rooted in the Levitical choirs of King David's time (1 Chr 25). The precise numbering in this verse, despite slight variations from the parallel text in Ezra 2:65, speaks to the commitment of the scribes to document every aspect of the return. While exact sums are important, the overarching narrative conveys the providential gathering of a diverse and structured community back to their homeland under God's guidance, ensuring that every facet of their national and religious life, from daily household functions to the most sacred temple rites, could be fully reconstituted. This careful accounting further served to legitimate the claims and roles of individuals in the post-exilic society.
Nehemiah 7 67 Commentary
Nehemiah 7:67 provides the concluding numbers for categories beyond direct family lines, showing the comprehensive scope of the returning community. The substantial count of servants (7,337) underscores the practical restoration of daily life and economic activity among the exiles, who now needed labor for their households and rebuilding projects. The distinct mention of 245 professional "singing men and singing women" reveals the profound spiritual and cultural priorities of the returned remnant. This was not merely about physical rebuilding; it was about re-establishing the vibrant, formalized worship life of the temple, with music as a vital component. These individuals played a crucial role in leading communal praise, thereby reinforcing spiritual identity and connection to God after generations in exile. Their presence signifies a full commitment to restoring Judah's sacred heritage and ensuring a robust religious foundation for future generations.