And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

NEHEMIAH 11:13KJV
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Nehemiah 11:13 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 11:13 mean?

Nehemiah 11:13 lists the leaders among the priests who returned to Jerusalem, specifically naming Amashai and tracing his family line back through several generations, along with mentioning 242 of his relatives who were also chief fathers. The verse highlights the importance of family lineage and leadership roles among the priests during the resettlement of Jerusalem.

This verse is part of a larger section where Nehemiah records the names and family backgrounds of those who settled in Jerusalem after the exile. The focus is on the priests, their ancestry, and the number of their leading men, showing the careful organization and continuity of religious leadership as the community rebuilt itself.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 11:13

  • "brethren" (אַחִים, 'achim; H251): This word refers to close relatives or fellow members of a group, emphasizing the communal and familial aspect of priestly service.
  • "chief" (רֹאשׁ, rosh; H7218): Often translated as "head" or "leader," this word points to those who held authority or leadership among the priests.
  • "fathers" (אָב, av; H1): This term refers to ancestors or patriarchs, underlining the importance of family heritage in priestly roles.
  • The repeated use of "son" (בֵּן, ben; H1121) in the genealogical list stresses the direct lineage and the passing down of responsibilities from one generation to the next.

Why Nehemiah 11:13 matters

  • This verse clarifies that leadership among the priests was not random but based on recognized family lines and established authority, which helped maintain order and tradition.
  • By naming individuals and their ancestry, Nehemiah underscores the restoration of proper worship and priestly service in Jerusalem, connecting the returning community to its historical roots.
  • The specific number of leaders (242) shows the scale and organization of the priestly group, giving a sense of the community’s structure as it was being rebuilt.

Where else these words appear

“Meshillemoth” Hebrew H4919 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 28:12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,

“Azareel” Hebrew H5832 · used in 6 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 12:6 Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
  • 1 Chronicles 25:18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
  • Ezra 10:41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

“Immer” Hebrew H564 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:12 And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
  • Ezra 2:59 And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
  • Nehemiah 7:40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

“forty” Hebrew H705 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 5:13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
  • Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.