Nehemiah 7:20 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 7:20 mean?

Nehemiah 7:20 records that 655 descendants of Adin returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a census listing the families and the number of their members who came back to help rebuild the city.

Nehemiah, the governor of Judah, is documenting the people who returned from exile to Jerusalem. The list in Nehemiah 7 shows the restoration of the Jewish community by naming families and counting their members. The mention of Adin’s descendants highlights the importance of each family group in reestablishing life and worship in Jerusalem.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 7:20

• בְּנֵי (bənê, H1121): This word means "children" or "descendants." It emphasizes the family lineage and the continuity of the people returning from exile.
• עָדִין (Adin, H5720): This is a personal or family name. Including specific names like Adin helps preserve the memory of those who played a role in the restoration.
• שֵׁשׁ (shesh, H8337), מֵאוֹת (me’ot, H3967), חֲמִשִּׁים (chamishim, H2572), חָמֵשׁ (chamesh, H2568): These are the Hebrew words for "six," "hundred," "fifty," and "five," which together make up the number 655. The precise count shows the careful record-keeping and the value placed on each returning family.

Why Nehemiah 7:20 matters

• This verse shows the careful documentation of those who returned, underlining the importance of every family in rebuilding the Jewish community after exile.
• Listing the descendants of Adin by name and number connects this generation to their ancestors, reinforcing a sense of identity and continuity.
• The census in Nehemiah 7 as a whole helps readers see the scale and organization of the return, showing that the restoration of Jerusalem was a communal effort involving many families.