Nehemiah 7 9

Nehemiah 7:9 kjv

The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

Nehemiah 7:9 nkjv

the sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two;

Nehemiah 7:9 niv

of Shephatiah ? 372

Nehemiah 7:9 esv

The sons of Shephatiah, 372.

Nehemiah 7:9 nlt

The family of Shephatiah ? 372

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 9 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:9 records the specific number of individuals from the family or clan of Zattu who returned to Judah from the Babylonian exile during the initial wave led by Zerubbabel. This seemingly simple entry is part of a detailed genealogical register that validated the identity and purity of the returning community, establishing the foundation for their restoration as God's covenant people.

Nehemiah 7 9 Context

Nehemiah chapter 7 describes the diligent organization of Jerusalem's restored community after the city wall was rebuilt. After setting up watchmen and administrative leadership (Neh 7:1-4), Nehemiah receives divine inspiration to conduct a census of the inhabitants, which leads him to discover the historical register of those who first returned from exile with Zerubbabel (Neh 7:5). The verse about the "sons of Zattu" is a specific entry within this vital list, which comprises clans, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants, along with their numerical strengths. This comprehensive register served to properly identify the rightful citizens of the covenant community, secure their land claims, organize society, and reinforce their distinct identity as the people of God after generations of captivity. The context emphasizes the painstaking effort involved in the post-exilic restoration, highlighting both human administrative precision and divine guidance.

Nehemiah 7 9 Word analysis

• The sons of: From the Hebrew "Benei" (בְּנֵי), indicating direct descendants, members of a family, or clan. It signifies the continuity of family lines and ancestral identity within the Israelite societal structure, crucial for land inheritance and communal organization.
• Zattu: (זַתּוּא) A proper noun, identifying a specific clan or ancestral head within Israel. The inclusion of such a detailed name underscores the importance of individual family units in the national restoration project, demonstrating a precise, divinely guided remembrance of lineage.
• eight hundred and forty-five: This specific numerical figure represents the counted adult males (or families) belonging to the Zattu clan. Its precision signifies meticulous record-keeping, essential for confirming the identities of the returned exiles, assessing the community's size, and allocating resources and responsibilities. This detail emphasizes that God's restoration was not a general sweep but involved attention to the smallest components of His people.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The sons of Zattu": This phrase highlights the importance of clan identity and genealogical purity in post-exilic Israel. Lineage determined not only one's place in society but also one's eligibility for temple service or land claims. The survival and return of these named families were a testament to God's preservation of His covenant people.
• "eight hundred and forty-five": The numerical detail, while seemingly mundane, speaks to the concrete reality of God's fulfillment of His promises to restore a remnant. It emphasizes that a substantial portion of the Zattu clan, one among many, made the arduous journey back, representing a tangible and verifiable aspect of the re-establishment of the nation. It reflects God's meticulous care over His people.

Nehemiah 7 9 Bonus section

The number "eight hundred and forty-five" for the sons of Zattu in Nehemiah 7:9 is noteworthy because it differs from the corresponding entry in Ezra 2:8, which lists "nine hundred and forty-five" for the same family. Such numerical discrepancies exist for several entries within these parallel lists (Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2), as well as in their overall totals. These variations are commonly understood by biblical scholars as resulting from minor copyist errors over centuries of transmission, different compilation methods (e.g., perhaps one counted actual returnees while another included those who planned to return, or families versus adult males, or those who settled early versus those who came later), or variations across ancient source documents. Crucially, these minor differences do not undermine the overall historical reliability of the lists or their theological purpose, which is to affirm God's faithfulness in preserving and restoring His people after exile, highlighting the reality of a tangible, identifiable remnant returning to Judah. The presence of these extensive, meticulously documented registers is a strong testament to the historical diligence and communal identity of the post-exilic Jewish community.

Nehemiah 7 9 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:9, though a mere numerical entry, is profoundly significant within the biblical narrative of restoration. It reflects God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant people through the exile and His detailed attention to their re-establishment in the land. This verse, as part of the broader register in Nehemiah 7 (and parallel to Ezra 2), establishes the legitimacy and identity of the returning community. It underscored their lineage as the true Israelites, essential for their priestly functions, land inheritance, and maintaining the purity of their faith amidst potential syncretism. The inclusion of precise numbers, despite slight variations between manuscripts, powerfully conveys that the restoration was a tangible, measured act of divine providence, rebuilding Israel from specific families and individuals, reinforcing their unique position as God's chosen nation.