God’s Word Translation
Nehemiah 11:1
1The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people drew lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The remaining nine-tenths were supposed to live in the other cities.
Nehemiah 11:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
- New International Version (NIV)Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities.
Context of Nehemiah 11:1
The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people drew lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The remaining nine-tenths were supposed to live in the other cities. 2The people blessed everyone who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. 3These were the officials of the province who settled in Jerusalem. Some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants settled in the cities of Judah. They lived on their own property in their own cities.
Read all of Nehemiah 11Nehemiah 11:1 word by word
וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ שָׂרֵֽי־הָעָ֖ם בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וּשְׁאָ֣ר הָ֠עָם הִפִּ֨ילוּ גוֹרָל֜וֹת לְהָבִ֣יא׀ אֶחָ֣ד מִן־הָעֲשָׂרָ֗ה לָשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ בִּֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עִ֣יר הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְתֵ֥שַׁע הַיָּד֖וֹת בֶּעָרִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the rulersשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- dweltיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- at Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- the restשְׁאָרshe'âr · remnantH7605
- also castנָפַלnâphal · to fall: allotH5307
- lotsגּוֹרָלgôrâl gôrâl · allottedH1486
- to bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- of tenעֶשֶׂר‛eώer ‛ăώârâh · tenH6235
- the holyקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
- cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- and nineתֵּ֫שַׁעtêsha‛ tish‛âh · nineH8672
- partsיָדyâd · hand: timesH3027
Cross-references for Nehemiah 11:1
- Nehemiah 7:4The city was large and wide-open. Few people were in it, and no houses were being built.
- Deuteronomy 17:8There may be a case that is too hard for you to decide. It may involve murder, assault, or a dispute—any case which may be brought to court in your cities. Take this case to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
- Psalms 122:5The court of justice sits there. It consists of ⌞princes who are⌟ David’s descendants.
- Nehemiah 10:34We priests, Levites, and laypeople have drawn lots to decide the order in which the heads of our families should bring wood to our God’s temple to burn on the altar of the Lord our God at appointed times every year according to the directions in the Teachings.
- Joshua 18:10So Joshua drew lots for them in the presence of the Lord in Shiloh. There Joshua divided the land among the tribes of Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 26:13They drew lots by families, youngest and oldest alike, for every gate.
- Proverbs 16:33The dice are thrown, but the Lord determines every outcome.
- Acts 1:24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s thoughts. Show us which of these two you have chosen.
- Judges 20:9This is what we’ll do to Gibeah. We’ll decide by lot who should attack it.
- Nehemiah 11:18All the Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
- Isaiah 48:2You call yourselves ⌞citizens⌟ of the holy city. You depend on the God of Israel. His name is the Lord of Armies.
- Isaiah 52:1Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, Zion! Put on your beautiful clothes, holy city of Jerusalem. Godless and evil people will no longer come to you.
- Matthew 4:5Then the devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple.
- Matthew 27:53They came out of the tombs after he had come back to life, and they went into the holy city where they appeared to many people.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 11:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1To bring one of ten - Jerusalem certainly had many inhabitants at this time; but not sufficient to preserve the city, which was now encompassed with a wall, and the rebuilding of which was going on fast. Nehemiah therefore obliged one tenth of the country people to come and dwell in it, that the population might be sufficient for the preservation and defense of the city. Ten were set apart, and the lot cast among them to see which one of the ten should…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1To bring one of ten - Artificial enlargements of capitals by forcible transfers of population to them, were not unusual in ancient times. About 500 B.C., Syracuse became a great city in this way. Tradition ascribed the greatness of Rome, in part, to this cause.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The distribution of the people. --In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Yet surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons and opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not this love to the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Sacred lots were likely the Urim and Thummim (Nehemiah 10:34; Joshua 7:14, 16–18; 14:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1Ne 11:1, 2. The Rulers, Voluntary Men, and Every Tenth Man Chosen by Lot, Dwell at Jerusalem. 1. the rulers ... dwelt at Jerusalem--That city being the metropolis of the country, it was right and proper that the seat of government should be there. But the exigency of the times required that special measures should be taken to insure the residence of an adequate population for the custody of the buildings and the defense of the city. From the annoyances of…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 11:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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