New Living Translation
Nehemiah 7:5
5So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there:
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, “Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day. And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt. So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there: 6Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived. 7Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile:
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 5:19Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.
- Nehemiah 6:14Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.
- Ezra 7:27Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem!
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.
- 2 Corinthians 8:16But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have.
- Philippians 2:12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
- Colossians 1:29That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
- James 1:16So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
- Nehemiah 7:64They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.
- 1 Chronicles 9:1So all Israel was listed in the genealogical records in The Book of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord.
- Ezra 2:62They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.
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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