Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
NEHEMIAH 7:67KJVWhat does Nehemiah 7:67 mean?
Nehemiah 7:67 lists the number of servants and singers among the people returning to Jerusalem, stating there were 7,337 male and female servants, and 245 singing men and women. This verse is part of a detailed census showing the makeup of the community after the exile.
Nehemiah, the governor, is recording the people who returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild Jerusalem. This verse highlights not only the families but also the support staff and musicians, showing the community’s organization and the importance of worship and daily life as they reestablish themselves in their homeland.
The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 7:67
- The word for "manservants" is עֶבֶד (ʿeved, H5650), meaning a male servant or slave. This shows that the returning community included people in servitude, reflecting the social structure of the time.
- The word for "maidservants" is שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah, H519), meaning a female servant or slave. Including both male and female servants emphasizes the completeness of the census.
- The numbers use Hebrew words: שֶׁבַע (sheva, H7651) for "seven," אֶלֶף (eleph, H505) for "thousand," שָׁלוֹשׁ (shalosh, H7969) for "three," מֵאָה (me'ah, H3967) for "hundred," שְׁלוֹשִׁים (sheloshim, H7970) for "thirty," אַרְבָּעִים (arba'im, H705) for "forty," and חָמֵשׁ (chamesh, H2568) for "five." The precise numbers stress the careful record-keeping and the significance of each group within the community.
- The word for "singing men" and "singing women" is שָׁר (shar, H7891), meaning "to sing." The mention of both male and female singers highlights the role of music and worship in the restored community.
Why Nehemiah 7:67 matters
- This verse shows that the returnees were not just families but included servants and musicians, giving a fuller picture of the community’s makeup.
- The mention of singers underlines the importance of worship and organized religious life as Jerusalem was being rebuilt.
- The careful census reflects Nehemiah’s leadership and the value placed on every person’s role, from servants to musicians, in rebuilding the nation.