The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
NEHEMIAH 3:13KJVWhat does Nehemiah 3:13 mean?
Nehemiah 3:13 describes how Hanun and the people of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate in Jerusalem, rebuilding it with its doors, locks, and bars, and also restoring a long stretch of the city wall—about a thousand cubits—leading to the Dung Gate. This verse highlights the organized effort and specific contributions of different groups in rebuilding Jerusalem’s defenses.
In the book of Nehemiah, the speaker is the narrator (traditionally Nehemiah himself), recording the names and work of those who helped restore Jerusalem’s walls after the Babylonian exile. The verse gives credit to Hanun and the Zanoah residents for their work on a major gate and a significant section of the wall, showing the communal and detailed nature of the project.
The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 3:13
- גַּיְא (gay’, H1516) — “valley”: This word points to the location of the gate, which was near a valley outside Jerusalem, likely making it a vulnerable entry point that needed strong defenses.
- דֶּלֶת (delet, H1817) — “doors”: The mention of doors, along with locks and bars, emphasizes that the gate was made secure, not just rebuilt in a basic way.
- בְּרִיחַ (beriach, H1280) — “bars”: This term refers to horizontal beams used to reinforce the gate, showing attention to both security and craftsmanship.
- אֶלֶף אַמָּה (elef ammah, H505 H520) — “a thousand cubits”: This measurement (roughly 1,500 feet or 450 meters) highlights the significant length of wall repaired, underlining the scale of the work done by this group.
Why Nehemiah 3:13 matters
- Nehemiah 3:13 clarifies that the rebuilding was not just about the gates but also included large sections of the wall, showing the thoroughness of the restoration.
- The verse highlights the cooperation of people from outside Jerusalem (Zanoah), showing that the city’s security was a shared concern for the whole region.
- By listing specific features like doors, locks, and bars, the verse emphasizes the seriousness and quality of the work, not just its completion.