Nehemiah 7:71 kjv
And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
Nehemiah 7:71 nkjv
Some of the heads of the fathers' houses gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand gold drachmas, and two thousand two hundred silver minas.
Nehemiah 7:71 niv
Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.
Nehemiah 7:71 esv
And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.
Nehemiah 7:71 nlt
The other leaders gave to the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins and some 2,750 pounds of silver for the work.
Nehemiah 7 71 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Ex 25:1-2 | Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution... | God commands offerings for the Tabernacle. |
Ex 35:4-5 | Take from among you a contribution to the LORD... | Call for freewill offerings from willing hearts. |
1 Chr 29:6-9 | Then the heads of fathers' houses, and the princes...gave willingly... | Leaders generously contributing for temple. |
1 Chr 29:14 | For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. | Recognition that all wealth belongs to God. |
2 Chr 24:8-11 | At the king's command they made a chest...collecting money... | Repair of temple through people's offerings. |
Ezra 2:68-69 | Some of the heads of fathers' houses...gave to the treasury of the work. | Parallel account of post-exile contributions. |
Ezra 8:25-27 | I weighed out to them the silver...and gold, as an offering for God. | Ezra's care for temple contributions. |
Neh 7:70 | The Tirshatha gave to the treasury 1,000 darics... | Nehemiah's leadership in initial giving. |
Hag 1:8 | Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house... | Exhortation to prioritize God's house. |
Mal 3:10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... | Divine instruction for provision for God's house. |
Matt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... | Investing in heavenly, eternal treasures. |
Matt 20:25-28 | You know that the rulers...lord it over them...but it shall not be so among you. | Leaders as servants, leading by example. |
Mk 12:41-44 | He saw how the people put money into the treasury... | Widow's mite - principle of sacrificial giving. |
Lk 12:48 | From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. | Greater responsibility for those with more. |
2 Cor 8:1-5 | Even in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy...overflowed. | Macedonians giving generously out of poverty. |
2 Cor 9:6-7 | God loves a cheerful giver. | Encouragement for joyful, bountiful giving. |
Phil 4:10-18 | I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length...you have revived. | Paul commends Philippians for their financial support. |
1 Tim 6:17-19 | As for the rich in this present age...to be rich in good works. | Instruction for the wealthy to be generous. |
Heb 13:16 | Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have... | Call to share and give generously. |
1 Pet 4:10-11 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another... | Using God-given resources for ministry. |
Nehemiah 7 verses
Nehemiah 7 71 Meaning
This verse details significant financial contributions from some of the prominent leaders of the repatriated families and clans towards the ongoing rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem. It specifies large amounts of gold (20,000 darics) and silver (2,200 minas), designated for the treasury supporting the extensive work required for the city and temple.
Nehemiah 7 71 Context
Nehemiah chapter 7 serves as a detailed registry of those who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile, identifying their numbers, their households, and the various resources they possessed. Verses 70-72 act as a significant concluding summary to this census, highlighting the immediate financial contributions made by key leaders and the wider community upon their return. This giving demonstrates a crucial act of devotion and commitment to the daunting task of rebuilding the city and, implicitly, the Temple's functioning, showing solidarity and readiness for the spiritual and physical restoration of Jerusalem. It sets the stage for the public reading of the Law in the next chapter, demonstrating that before spiritual revival, there was tangible commitment and sacrifice for the material and communal needs of the newly re-established city.
Nehemiah 7 71 Word analysis
- And some of the heads of fathers' houses: This refers to the prominent family and tribal leaders (Hebrew: roshei ha'avot), indicating that the leadership not only returned but also set an example by contributing. "Some" suggests not every single head, but a representative and significant portion. This highlights a leadership initiative in sacrificial giving.
- gave: The Hebrew verb natenu simply means "they gave." It conveys a direct, volitional action of donation, emphasizing that these contributions were not forced but offered. This is distinct from mandated taxes or tributes, signifying a heart of willingness.
- to the treasury: (Hebrew: ha'otsar) Refers to a storehouse or place for public funds, likely connected with the Temple or the general civic administration. This specifies that the contributions were for collective, communal use, ensuring resources for ongoing projects rather than private use.
- for the work: (Hebrew: lam-melakha) Implies the extensive undertaking of rebuilding, restoring, and maintaining Jerusalem's walls, gates, and the Temple. It underscores the practical purpose of the funds and the collective effort involved in restoring the city to its former glory and function as the center of Israelite worship.
- 20,000 darics of gold: A daric (darkemon) was a Persian gold coin, symbolizing the foreign imperial economic influence, but also signifying the wealth retained by some Jewish leaders. This substantial sum of gold would have been immensely valuable, used for high-value purchases, skilled labor, or essential, costly materials. The amount denotes a significant, top-tier contribution.
- and 2,200 minas of silver: A mina (maneh) was a unit of weight for silver, roughly equivalent to 50-60 shekels, indicating another very large and significant contribution of silver, primarily by weight. Silver would have been used for more common, but still substantial, expenditures related to materials and wages for general labor. The dual currency types (coin and weight) and large quantities show the extent of their financial commitment.
Nehemiah 7 71 Bonus section
The variation in figures for the contributions between Nehemiah 7:70-72 and Ezra 2:68-69 (which provides a similar account) is a notable point. While the figures for the Tirshatha (Nehemiah) and the people differ, the overall emphasis on the large scale of financial support remains consistent across both historical books. This slight numerical discrepancy is often attributed by scholars to different phases of collection, different account-keeping methods, or slight scribal variations over time. However, it does not diminish the central message: the significant, freewill offerings from the leaders and the community were crucial for funding the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem and re-establishing its religious life following the exile. This generosity enabled the restoration of both civil and sacred infrastructure, making tangible the people's renewed commitment to their covenant God.
Nehemiah 7 71 Commentary
Nehemiah 7:71, in conjunction with the surrounding verses, emphasizes the collective commitment and generosity of the returned exiles, particularly their leaders, towards the physical and spiritual restoration of Jerusalem. The magnitude of the donations – in precious gold darics and silver minas – highlights both the existing wealth within the community despite years of exile and, more importantly, a profound willingness to use that wealth for the advancement of God's work. This act of sacrificial giving by the "heads of fathers' houses" serves as a powerful example of leadership through action, laying a tangible foundation for the spiritual renewal that was to follow. It underscores the biblical principle that tangible resources are essential for divine work and that leaders should set the standard in devotion and contribution. It serves as a reminder that faithfulness to God's calling often requires costly obedience and financial commitment to His purposes, reflecting a heart aligned with His priorities for His people and His dwelling place.