Nehemiah 11:8 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 11:8 mean?

Nehemiah 11:8 lists two men, Gabbai and Sallai, along with the number 928, as part of a census of people living in Jerusalem after the exile. This verse is part of a record showing who returned to help repopulate and rebuild the city.

Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem, is documenting the families and individuals who settled in the city after the Babylonian exile. The verse specifically names Gabbai and Sallai as leaders or representatives, and the number 928 likely refers to the total men associated with their family or clan. This careful record-keeping highlights the effort to restore Jerusalem’s population and community life.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 11:8

• גַּבַּי (Gabbai): This is a personal name, likely identifying a family head or clan leader. Names like this help trace the lineage and organization of the returned exiles.
• סַלָּי (Sallai): Another personal name, also marking a leader or representative of a group among the returned people.
• תֵּשַׁע (tesha‘, "nine"), מֵאוֹת (me’ot, "hundred"), עֶשְׂרִים (esrim, "twenty"), שְׁמֹנֶה (shemoneh, "eight"): These words together make up the number 928, showing the exact count of people connected to these leaders. The precision emphasizes the organized nature of the resettlement.

Why Nehemiah 11:8 matters

• This verse shows the importance of every family and individual in rebuilding Jerusalem, not just leaders or famous figures.
• The detailed census demonstrates the care taken to reestablish the community after a long period of exile and hardship.
• Seeing specific names and numbers connects the reader to the real people who made sacrifices to restore their city and faith community.