Nehemiah 7:46-56 · Bible study
Nehemiah 7:46-56 Commentary: Temple Servants' Place in Restoration
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study of Nehemiah 7:46-56, a list of temple servant (Nethinim) families. Why these names are recorded and what their inclusion means for the restored community.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A register of temple servant families who returned from exile and were incorporated into the restored community.
- Key words: Nethinim (temple servants, “given ones”), ben (children/descendants), plus names of individual families.
- Main debate: Whether the Nethinim originated from the Gibeonites (Joshua 9) or were later added by David and Solomon. Both traditions appear in the Old Testament.
- Theological theme: God’s inclusive community values all roles, even those that go unnoticed by human eyes.
- Best use: To affirm the dignity of lowly service and to remind God’s people that every name matters to Him.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
46The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,
47the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon,
48the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai,
49the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar,
50the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda,
51the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah,
52the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephushesim,
53the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,
54the descendants of Bazlith, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,
55the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,
56the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.
WEB World English Bible 2000
46The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
49the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah,
52the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
53the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
56the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.
KJV King James Version 1769
46The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
49The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
52The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
46The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
49the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah.
52The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
53the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
56the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
46The Nethinim: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth,
47sons of Keros, sons of Sia, sons of Padon,
48sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagaba, sons of Shalmai,
49sons of Hanan, sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar,
50sons of Reaiah, sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda,
51sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of Phaseah,
52sons of Bezai, sons of Meunim, sons of Nephishesim,
53sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur,
54sons of Bazlith, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha,
55sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Tamah,
56sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
46The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
49the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
52the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
56the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
46The porters: the children of Sellum, the children of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai: a hundred thirty-eight.
47The Nathinites: the children of Soha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tebbaoth,
48The children of Ceros, the children os Siaa, the children of Phadon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Selmai,
49The children of Hanan, the children of Geddel, the children of Gaher,
50The children of Raaia, the children of Rasin, the children of Necoda,
51The children of Gezem, the children of Asa, the children of Phasea,
52The children of Besai, the children of Munim, the children of Nephussim,
53The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur,
54The children of Besloth, the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa,
55The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thema,
56The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Nehemiah 7:46
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this list records families of the Nethinim, temple servants, who returned from exile under Zerubbabel. The Hebrew term Nethinim means “given ones,” pointing to their dedicated service to the sanctuary. The Cambridge Bible notes the list’s close parallel with Ezra 2:43, 54, confirming it as a standard census of the first return. Geneva’s notes simply reproduce the names, indicating early Reformed readers accepted the list as straightforward history. The inclusion of families named after individuals (e.g., Sisera, formerly a Canaanite general) echoes the pattern of Joshua 9:23, 27, where Gibeonites became “wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of God.”
All consulted sources view the passage as a factual register, not a symbolic list. Its clear purpose is to document that every group, including lowly temple servants, was part of the restoration. The careful preservation of these names shows that in God’s community, no role is beneath being remembered.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: This passage is a census list of temple servant families who returned from exile and were recorded as part of the post-exilic community of God's people.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of the Nethinim | All traditions agree the Nethinim were temple servants assigned to assist Levites and priests. | Some connect them to the Gibeonites made servants by Joshua (Joshua 9:23, 27); others emphasize the later appointment of Nethinim by David and the princes (Ezra 8:20). Neither view is exclusive. |
| Ethnic status of the Nethinim | They were non-Israelites incorporated into the community for temple service. | Whether they were considered full members of Israel or remained resident aliens is unclear. Some later Jewish traditions restricted their rights; the biblical text treats them as full participants in the census. |
| Interpretive significance of the list | The list affirms that every person who served God was recorded, regardless of social standing. | Some read this as a literal historical snapshot; others see it as a theological statement that God values the lowly. Both are compatible. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Nehemiah 7 takes place after the wall of Jerusalem is rebuilt. The city is secure, but its population is thin (v.4). Nehemiah decides to take a census, recording “the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy” (v.5). He discovers a register from the first return under Zerubbabel, about ninety years earlier. The register lists families by category: Israelites by tribe, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and then the Nethinim (temple servants).
The Nethinim were a distinct group assigned to assist the Levites and priests in temple work. Their origin is traced to the Gibeonites, whom Joshua made “wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for Yahweh’s altar” (Joshua 9:23, 27). Later, David and the princes apparently added more to this group; Ezra 8:20 mentions “the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given to serve the Levites.” The names in Nehemiah 7 include ones of Canaanite origin (Sisera, Meunim), supporting a mixed ethnic background.
This list appears again in Ezra 2:43, 54 with slight differences in spelling. The number of temple servants recorded totals 392 (Nehemiah 7:60), showing a sizable minority. Their inclusion in the genealogy alongside priests and Levites made an emphatic statement: even those of low social status had a permanent, documented place in the restored community of God’s people.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note minor spelling variations between the Nehemiah list and its parallel in Ezra 2. The Cambridge Bible observes that the Revised Version changes “Hashupha” to “Hasupha” and “Nephishesim” to “Nephushesim.” Adam Clarke mentions that some manuscripts read “Mehira” instead of “Mehida” (v.54). The Hebrew consonants remain stable throughout, and no significant text-critical issue affects the interpretation of the passage. Consulted sources note the variants are limited to orthography.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, the Nethinim were recognized as a low-status group with restricted marriage rights, yet their inclusion in the biblical register was never questioned. Early synagogue readings likely treated this passage as part of the larger genealogical record that authenticated post-exilic Jewish identity. Christian interpreters from the Reformation onward (e.g., the Geneva Bible notes) read the list as straightforward history, a proof that God remembered every family that returned. Later commentators, including Matthew Henry, used the passage to encourage believers in hidden service: “God has a book of remembrance for all who serve Him in any capacity.” In modern scholarship, the list is valued for confirming the social diversity of the restored community and for its witness to the integration of foreign elements into Israel’s worship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s inclusive community. The Nethinim are listed right after priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. No task was too humble to be forgotten. God’s people include everyone who serves His house.
- Faithful service in hidden roles. Temple servants worked behind the scenes, cleaning, carrying wood, drawing water. Their names are preserved as a reminder that unseen labor is seen by God.
- Every name written. The long list of unfamiliar names shows that God keeps a record of each person who belongs to Him. No one is lost or overlooked.
Five-point outline
- The historical setting: After the wall was complete, Nehemiah needed to know who lived in Jerusalem. He used an existing census from the first return.
- The Nethinim defined: “Given ones” dedicated to temple service, likely descended from Gibeonites or other captives assigned to sanctuary work.
- Their preservation: The list appears in both Ezra and Nehemiah, confirming the community guarded its records carefully.
- Their numbers: 392 temple servants were a significant part of the population, not a footnote.
- Their inclusion: Being recorded among the people of Israel signified full acceptance in the covenant community.
Illustration hooks
- A church volunteer who cleans the sanctuary each week, no one sees them, but the pastor knows their name.
- A person who runs the soundboard every Sunday, hidden in a back room, making worship possible.
- A small prayer group that feels insignificant compared to the big ministries, yet their intercession undergirds everything.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does my role in church matter if no one notices what I do?
- Why does the Bible include pages of names we cannot pronounce, is this just ancient bureaucracy?
- How do I find my place in God’s community when I feel lowly or overlooked?
Leading a Discussion
This passage lists the families of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned from exile and were recorded in Nehemiah’s census. While the names themselves may seem obscure, their presence teaches us about God’s inclusive welcome and the value of every person who serves in His house. Use these questions to uncover what this ancient register says to us today.
Discussion questions
- What does the term “Nethinim” mean, and what can we learn about these people from the Hebrew word itself?
- Why do you think the temple servants were listed separately from priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers? What does that separation suggest about social roles in ancient Israel?
- Look at Joshua 9:23, 27. How does the story of the Gibeonites help explain the origin of the Nethinim? What does this say about how God uses outsiders?
- The same list appears in Ezra 2:43, 54. Why was it so important to repeat this record? What does careful bookkeeping tell us about God’s nature?
- Many families bear names that mean something (e.g., Temah = “laughter,” Bakbuk = “bottle”). How might these names reflect the faith or circumstances of these servants?
- In our churches, who are the “temple servants”, the people who do the unrecognized work? How can we better honor and include them?
- This passage ends with a total number (v.60). How does knowing that God keeps a record of each person’s service affect how you view your own daily tasks?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 27:2 | “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When a man consecrates a person to Yahweh in a vow, according to your valuation, |
| Leviticus 27:8 | But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall assign a value to him. The priest shall assign a value according to his ability to pay. |
| Joshua 9:23 | Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.” |
| Joshua 9:27 | That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for Yahweh’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose. |
| I Chronicles 9:2 | Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. |
| Ezra 2:43 | The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, |
| Ezra 2:44 | the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, |
| Ezra 2:45 | the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes a textual variation in the list of temple servants: many important manuscripts read "Mehira" instead of "Mehida." This kind of scribal difference, while small, matters for identifying the precise families that served in the restored temple.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary identifies specific textual variations between the King James Version and the Revised Version for several names of the Nethinim (temple servants) and their families, such as Hashupha becoming Hasupha and Nephishesim being rendered Nephushesim with an alternate reading noted.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note simply lists the families of the Nethinims one by one, treating this genealogy as a straightforward record of the temple servants who returned from exile. No interpretation or explanation is added beyond preserving the names themselves.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Nehemiah credits God directly for the impulse to gather the genealogical record. For him, this register is not a dry administrative list but a providential act that preserves the identity and honor of the true covenant community returning from exile.