The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

NEHEMIAH 7:15KJV
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Nehemiah 7:15 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 7:15 mean?

Nehemiah 7:15 records that there were 648 descendants of Binnui among those returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a census listing the families and their numbers who came back to help rebuild the city.

Nehemiah, the governor of Judah, is compiling a careful record of the people who returned from exile. The list in Nehemiah 7 helps establish the community’s identity and shows the continuity of Israel’s families. Each family group, like the children of Binnui, is counted to highlight their role in restoring Jerusalem.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 7:15

  • בְּנֵי (bənê, H1121) — “children” or “sons”: This word refers to the descendants or family members of a particular ancestor, in this case, Binnui. It emphasizes the importance of family lineage in Israel’s community.
  • בִּנּוּי (Binnui, H1131) — “Binnui”: This is a personal name, identifying a specific family group among the returnees. Including names like Binnui preserves the memory of those who contributed to rebuilding.
  • שֵׁשׁ (shesh, H8337), מֵאוֹת (me’ot, H3967), אַרְבָּעִים (arba‘im, H705), שְׁמוֹנָה (shemoneh, H8083) — “six hundred forty and eight”: These Hebrew words combine to specify the exact number of Binnui’s descendants. The detailed count shows the careful record-keeping and the value placed on each family’s participation.

Why Nehemiah 7:15 matters

  • Nehemiah 7:15 shows the importance of every family in the restoration of Jerusalem, not just the leaders or priests.
  • This census connects the returning exiles to their ancestral roots, reinforcing their identity after years of displacement.
  • The verse highlights the careful organization and accountability in rebuilding the community, which was essential for the stability and future of Jerusalem.

Where else these words appear

“Binnui” Hebrew H1131 · used in 7 verses

  • Ezra 8:33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
  • Ezra 10:38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
  • Nehemiah 10:9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

“eight” Hebrew H8083 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
  • 1 Kings 7:10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

“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.