New English Translation
Nehemiah 7:5
5My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record:
Nehemiah 7:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,
- New International Version (NIV)So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it:
Context of Nehemiah 7:5
3I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened in the early morning, until those who are standing guard close the doors and lock them. Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard stations and some near their homes.” 4Now the city was spread out and large, and there were not a lot of people in it. At that time houses had not been rebuilt. My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record: 6These are the people of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own city. 7They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of Israelite men was as follows:
Read all of Nehemiah 7Nehemiah 7:5 word by word
וַיִּתֵּ֤ן אֱלֹהַי֙ אֶל־לִבִּ֔י וָאֶקְבְּצָ֞ה אֶת־הַחֹרִ֧ים וְאֶת־הַסְּגָנִ֛ים וְאֶת־הָעָ֖ם לְהִתְיַחֵ֑שׂ וָֽאֶמְצָ֗א סֵ֤פֶר הַיַּ֙חַשׂ֙ הָעוֹלִ֣ים בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֔ה וָאֶמְצָ֖א כָּת֥וּב בּֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- into mine heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- to gather togetherקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
- the noblesחֹרchôr chôr · nobleH2715
- and the rulersסָגָןsâgân · rulerH5461
- and the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- that they might be reckoned by genealogyיָחַשׂyâchaώ · to enrollH3187
- And I foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- a registerסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
- of the genealogyיַ֫חַשׂyachaώ · genealogyH3188
- of them which came upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- at the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · firstH7223
- writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
Cross-references for Nehemiah 7:5
- Nehemiah 5:19Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
- Nehemiah 6:14Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in light of these actions of theirs – also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to scare me!
- Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem!
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
- 2 Corinthians 8:16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,
- Philippians 2:12So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,
- Colossians 1:29Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.
- James 1:16Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.
- Nehemiah 7:64They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood.
- 1 Chronicles 9:1Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
- Ezra 2:62They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 7:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5God put into mine heart - With this good man every good thing was of God. If he purposed any good, it was because God put it into his heart; if he did any good, it was because the good hand of his God was upon him; if he expected any good, it was because he earnestly prayed God to remember him for good. Thus, in all his ways he acknowledged God, and God directed all his steps.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5It is argued by some that the entire catalogue which follows Nehemiah 7:7 and Ezra 2:2 are, however, very positive in their support of the usual view; and some of the arguments against it are thought to be met by considering the Nehemiah of Nehemiah 7:7 and Ezra 2:2 a person different from Nehemiah the governor; and “Tirshatha” an official title likely to have belonged to others besides Nehemiah (see the Ezra 2:63 note.)Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-73Verses 5-73 Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Most people lived in the countryside near their fields, so Jerusalem's population was small. A registration would likely encourage more people to settle in and near Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:73).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-385. my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, &c.--The arrangement about to be described, though dictated by mere common prudence, is, in accordance with the pious feelings of Nehemiah, ascribed not to his own prudence or reflection, but to the grace of God prompting and directing him. He resolved to prepare a register of the returned exiles, containing an exact record of the family and ancestral abode of every individual. While thus…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 7:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 7
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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