The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

NEHEMIAH 7:12KJV
Know the Bible

Nehemiah 7:12 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 7:12 mean?

Nehemiah 7:12 records that 1,254 descendants of Elam returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a census listing the families and numbers of people who came back to help rebuild the city.

Nehemiah, as governor, is documenting the names and numbers of Israelite families who returned from captivity. The list shows the organized effort to restore Jerusalem’s community and worship. Mentioning the children of Elam highlights one of the family groups committed to the restoration work.

Where else these words appear

“Elam” Hebrew H5867 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
  • Ezra 8:7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
  • Jeremiah 25:25 And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

“fifty” Hebrew H2572 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • Numbers 4:30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.