The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

NEHEMIAH 7:66KJV
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Nehemiah 7:66 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 7:66 mean?

Nehemiah 7:66 reports the total number of people who returned from exile to Jerusalem and Judah, stating that the whole assembled group numbered 42,360. This verse gives a headcount of the community that had come back from Babylonian captivity to rebuild their homeland.

Nehemiah, the governor, is recording the census of the returned exiles as part of his effort to restore Jerusalem. This number includes men, women, and children who made the journey, and it sets the stage for understanding the scale of the community that would work together to rebuild the city and its religious life.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 7:66

  • "congregation" (קָהָל, qāhāl): This word refers to an assembled group or community, not just a random collection of people. It emphasizes the unity and shared purpose of those who returned.
  • "together" (אֶחָד, 'eḥad): This word means "as one" or "united," highlighting that the people are counted as a single, unified body rather than separate groups.
  • The numbers: "forty" (אַרְבָּעִים, 'arba'im), "two" (שְׁנַיִם, shenayim), "thousand" (אֶלֶף, 'elef), "three" (שָׁלוֹשׁ, shalosh), "hundred" (מֵאָה, me'ah), "threescore" (שִׁשִּׁים, shishim): The Hebrew numbers are precise and add up to 42,360, showing careful record-keeping and the importance of each person in the community.

Why Nehemiah 7:66 matters

  • This verse clarifies the size of the group returning from exile, which helps readers understand the scale of the rebuilding effort in Jerusalem.
  • The emphasis on the whole congregation "together" points to the unity and shared identity of the returned exiles, which is a key theme in Nehemiah's account.
  • By recording this census, Nehemiah connects the people to their history and roots, showing that the restoration of Jerusalem was a communal effort involving everyone who returned.

Where else these words appear

“forty” Hebrew H7239 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 29:7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
  • Nehemiah 7:71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
  • Daniel 11:12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

“threescore” Hebrew H8346 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 5:15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
  • Numbers 31:34 And threescore and one thousand asses,
  • 2 Chronicles 11:21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines:(for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

“congregation” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.