Nehemiah 7:12
Nehemiah 7:12 in Multiple Translations
the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
The children of Elam, a thousand, two hundred and fifty-four.
the sons of Elam, 1,254;
The sonnes of Elam, a thousand, two hundreth fiftie and foure.
Sons of Elam: a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
The children of Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty four.
The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
1,254 men from the clan of Elam;
Berean Amplified Bible — Nehemiah 7:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Nehemiah 7:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּנֵ֣י
עֵילָ֔ם
אֶ֕לֶף
מָאתַ֖יִם
חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים
וְ/אַרְבָּעָֽה
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
עֵילָ֔ם
ʻÊylâm
H5867
Elam
N-proper
אֶ֕לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
מָאתַ֖יִם
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים
chămishshîym
H2572
fifty
Adj
וְ/אַרְבָּעָֽה
ʼarbaʻ
H702
four
Conj | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Nehemiah 7:12
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
עֵילָ֔ם
ʻÊylâm
H5867
"Elam"
N-proper
Elam refers to a son of Shem and his descendants, as well as a region, first mentioned in Genesis 10:22. The name means eternity. Elam is also the name of several Israelites, including one mentioned in Nehemiah 12:42.
Definition: § Elam = "eternity" a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: Elam. See also: Genesis 10:22; Nehemiah 10:15; Isaiah 11:11.
אֶ֕לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
"thousand"
Adj
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.
מָאתַ֖יִם
mêʼâh
H3967
"hundred"
Adj
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) hundred 1a) as simple number 1b) as part of larger number 1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100) Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. See also: Genesis 5:3; Numbers 2:6; Judges 18:17.
חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים
chămishshîym
H2572
"fifty"
Adj
This Hebrew word simply means the number fifty, used in various biblical contexts like measurements and quantities. It appears in Leviticus and Numbers.
Definition: 1) fifty 1a) fifty (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of fifty (with other numbers) 1c) fiftieth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: fifty. See also: Genesis 6:15; 1 Kings 7:2; Isaiah 3:3.
וְ/אַרְבָּעָֽה
ʼarbaʻ
H702
"four"
Conj | Adj
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Definition: four
Usage: Occurs in 277 OT verses. KJV: four. See also: Genesis 2:10; Judges 20:47; Esther 9:21.
Study Notes — Nehemiah 7:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The List of Returning Exiles
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra 10:26 | From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah. |
| 2 | Ezra 2:7 | the descendants of Elam, 1,254; |
| 3 | Ezra 8:7 | from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men; |
Nehemiah 7:12 Summary
Nehemiah 7:12 tells us about the descendants of Elam, who were part of the Israelites returning from exile. This verse shows that God cares about every person and family, no matter how big or small, just like He promises in Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 10:29-31. The listing of the descendants of Elam, with 1,254 people, demonstrates God's faithfulness to His people and highlights the importance of each individual in His plan. As we reflect on this verse, we can trust in God's love and care for us, just as the descendants of Elam did, and remember that we are all part of a larger community of believers, as seen in Acts 2:42-47 and Ephesians 4:1-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the descendants of Elam in Nehemiah 7:12?
The descendants of Elam are listed among the other families who returned from exile, indicating their importance in the restoration of Israel, as seen in Ezra 2:7 and Nehemiah 7:12. This highlights God's faithfulness to His people, as promised in Deuteronomy 30:3-5.
How does the number of descendants of Elam compare to other families listed in Nehemiah 7?
The 1,254 descendants of Elam are fewer than some families, such as the descendants of Pahath-moab with 2,818, but more than others, like the descendants of Zaccai with 760, demonstrating the diversity of the Israelite community, as also seen in Genesis 12:2-3 and Revelation 7:9.
What can we learn from the fact that the descendants of Elam are specifically mentioned in Nehemiah 7:12?
The mention of the descendants of Elam, along with other families, emphasizes the importance of every individual and family in God's plan, as stated in Psalm 139:17-18 and Galatians 3:28. This shows that God values and cares for each person, regardless of their background or family size.
How does Nehemiah 7:12 relate to the broader biblical narrative?
Nehemiah 7:12 is part of the larger story of God's redemption and restoration of His people, as seen in Exodus 19:5-6, Ezekiel 36:24, and Matthew 1:1-17, demonstrating God's faithfulness and love for His people across generations.
Reflection Questions
- What does the listing of the descendants of Elam in Nehemiah 7:12 reveal about God's heart for His people, and how can I apply this to my own life?
- In what ways can I, like the descendants of Elam, be a part of God's larger plan for restoration and redemption, as seen in Isaiah 61:1-4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21?
- How does the specific mention of the descendants of Elam encourage me to trust in God's sovereignty and care, as expressed in Psalm 23:1-6 and Romans 8:28-30?
- What does the diversity of families listed in Nehemiah 7, including the descendants of Elam, teach me about the importance of unity and cooperation in the body of Christ, as seen in John 17:20-23 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31?
Gill's Exposition on Nehemiah 7:12
[See comments on Ne 7:6].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 7:12
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem
Ellicott's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:12
(5-73) The genealogical reckoning of the people, as the first step towards increasing the population of the metropolis, is determined on, not without express Divine suggestion; the allusion to this inspiration from God, is, as in Nehemiah 2:12, very emphatic. The original register of Zerubbabelis found and copied. The express language of both Ezra and Nehemiah makes it plain that this is no other than the list of those who came up with Zerubbabel and Joshua after the decree of Cyrus, in B.C. 538. Nehemiah’s own census follows, in Nehemiah 11. The exposition, especially as compared with Ezra 2, has been given on that chapter.