Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

NEHEMIAH 11:3KJV
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Nehemiah 11:3 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 11:3 mean?

Nehemiah 11:3 lists the leaders and groups of people who lived in Jerusalem after the return from exile, while also noting that other Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinims, and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in their own towns throughout Judah. The verse sets up a record of who settled where as Jerusalem was being repopulated and organized.

Nehemiah is describing the situation after many Jewish people returned from Babylonian exile. The leaders (chiefs) lived in Jerusalem, the main city, but most people lived in their own inherited towns across Judah. The verse mentions specific groups—Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinims (temple servants), and the descendants of Solomon’s servants—to show the careful organization and diverse makeup of the community at this time.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 11:3

  • "chief" (רֹאשׁ, rosh): This word means "head" or "leader." The verse highlights that those living in Jerusalem were not just ordinary people, but the heads or leaders of the community, emphasizing the importance of leadership in rebuilding the city.
  • "province" (מְדִינָה, medinah): This term refers to a district or administrative region under Persian rule. Calling Judah a "province" reminds the reader that the returned exiles were still living under foreign authority, not as an independent nation.
  • "Nethinims" (נְתִינִים, nethinim): This word refers to temple servants assigned to assist the Levites. Mentioning them alongside priests and Levites shows their recognized role in the religious life of the community.
  • "children of Solomon's servants" (בְּנֵי עַבְדֵי שְׁלֹמֹה, b'nei avdei Sh'lomo): This phrase refers to descendants of non-Israelite laborers who served in the temple, tracing their roles back to King Solomon’s time. Including them shows the continuity and diversity of temple service.

Why Nehemiah 11:3 matters

  • Nehemiah 11:3 clarifies that Jerusalem was not repopulated by just anyone, but by carefully chosen leaders and specific groups, showing the importance of order and planning in restoring the city.
  • The verse highlights the diversity of the post-exilic community, including not only Israelites but also priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants, reflecting a broad and organized effort in rebuilding religious and civic life.
  • By mentioning the "province," Nehemiah 11:3 reminds readers that the returned exiles were still under Persian rule, which shaped how they organized their society and leadership.

Where else these words appear

“Nethinims” Hebrew H5411 · used in 15 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:2 Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
  • Ezra 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
  • Nehemiah 7:46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

“province” Hebrew H4082 · used in 40 verses

  • 1 Kings 20:14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
  • Esther 3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
  • Esther 9:3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

“possession” Hebrew H272 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
  • Leviticus 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.
  • Joshua 21:41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.