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

NEHEMIAH 7:34KJV
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Nehemiah 7:34 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 7:34 mean?

Nehemiah 7:34 records that 1,254 descendants from the group called "the other 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 rebuild the city.

Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem, is documenting the names and numbers of returning exiles. The mention of "the other Elam" distinguishes this group from another family also named Elam listed earlier. This careful record-keeping shows the importance of every family and their role in restoring the Jewish community.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 7:34

  • "children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants," emphasizing that the list is about family lines, not just individuals.
  • "other" (אַחֵר, 'acher): This word means "another" or "other," clarifying that this is a different Elam family from the one mentioned previously in the list.
  • "Elam" (עֵילָם, 'Elam): This is a proper name, referring to a family or clan, possibly tracing back to a region or ancestor named Elam.
  • The numbers "thousand" (אֶלֶף, 'eleph), "hundred" (מֵאָה, me'ah), "fifty" (חֲמִשִּׁים, chamishim), and "four" (אַרְבַּע, arba): These words show the precision of the count, highlighting the detailed nature of the census.

Why Nehemiah 7:34 matters

  • This verse helps clarify that more than one family group bore the name Elam, showing the complexity and diversity among the returning exiles.
  • The careful listing of each group and their numbers underlines the value placed on every family in the restoration of Jerusalem.
  • By connecting this verse to the broader list, readers see the organizational effort behind rebuilding the Jewish community after exile.

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.