The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

NEHEMIAH 7:39KJV
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Nehemiah 7:39 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 7:39 mean?

Nehemiah 7:39 lists a group of priests who returned to Jerusalem after the exile, specifically the descendants of Jedaiah from the house of Jeshua, numbering 973 people. This verse is part of a census that records those who came back to help rebuild the city and its religious life.

In the context of Nehemiah, this list is being compiled by Nehemiah as he organizes the returned exiles and reestablishes the community. The mention of "priests" highlights the importance of restoring proper worship in Jerusalem, and naming the families and their numbers shows the careful record-keeping and the significance of each group in the rebuilding effort.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 7:39

  • כֹּהֵן (kohen; H3548): This word means "priest." Its use here shows that the people listed were from the priestly class, responsible for temple service.
  • בֵּן (ben; H1121): This means "child" or "descendant." In this context, it refers to the descendants or family line of Jedaiah.
  • יְדָעְיָה (Yeda‘yah; H3048): This is the name "Jedaiah," identifying a specific priestly family.
  • בַּיִת (bayit; H1004): This means "house," referring to the family or household, here specifically "the house of Jeshua."
  • יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua; H3442): This is the name "Jeshua," another important priestly ancestor.
  • תֵּשַׁע (tesha‘; H8672), מֵאָה (me’ah; H3967), שִׁבְעִים (shiv‘im; H7657), שָׁלוֹשׁ (shalosh; H7969): These are the Hebrew words for "nine," "hundred," "seventy," and "three," making up the total 973. The precise number underscores the careful documentation of each family.

Why Nehemiah 7:39 matters

  • Nehemiah 7:39 clarifies that the returning exiles included not just ordinary people but also priests, which was essential for restoring temple worship and religious practices in Jerusalem.
  • The verse shows the importance of family lineage and record-keeping in ancient Israel, especially for those serving in religious roles.
  • By naming specific families and their numbers, Nehemiah emphasizes the organized and communal nature of the rebuilding effort, connecting this verse to the broader theme of restoration in the book.

Where else these words appear

“Jedaiah” Hebrew H3048 · used in 11 verses

“Jeshua” Hebrew H3442 · used in 29 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 24:11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
  • Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
  • Nehemiah 9:4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

“nine” Hebrew H8672 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
  • Numbers 34:13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
  • 2 Kings 25:3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

“seventy” Hebrew H7657 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
  • Numbers 7:73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 1 Chronicles 21:14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.