Nehemiah 7:32
Nehemiah 7:32 in Multiple Translations
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three.
The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three.
the people from Bethel and Ai, 123;
The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundreth and three and twentie.
Men of Bethel and Ai: a hundred twenty and three.
The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.
The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred and twenty three.
The men of Bethel and Hai, a hundred twenty-three.
123 men from Bethel and Ai;
Berean Amplified Bible — Nehemiah 7:32
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 7:32 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַנְשֵׁ֤י
בֵֽית
אֵל֙
וְ/הָ/עָ֔י
מֵאָ֖ה
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
וּ/שְׁלֹשָֽׁה
אַנְשֵׁ֤י
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-mp
בֵֽית
Bêyth-ʼÊl
H1008
Bethel
N-proper
אֵל֙
Bêyth-ʼÊl
H1008
Bethel
N-proper
וְ/הָ/עָ֔י
ʻAy
H5857
Ai
Conj | Art | N-proper
מֵאָ֖ה
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
twenty
Adj
וּ/שְׁלֹשָֽׁה
shâlôwsh
H7969
three
Conj | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Nehemiah 7:32
אַנְשֵׁ֤י
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-mp
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
בֵֽית
Bêyth-ʼÊl
H1008
"Bethel"
N-proper
Bethel, meaning house of God, is a significant location in the Bible, particularly in the book of Genesis. It was a place of worship and sacrifice, where Jacob had a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven. The name Bethel signifies its importance as a spiritual site, where God was believed to dwell.
Definition: § Bethel = "house of God" a place in south country of Judah
Usage: Occurs in 65 OT verses. KJV: Beth-el. See also: Genesis 12:8; 1 Samuel 30:27; Jeremiah 48:13.
אֵל֙
Bêyth-ʼÊl
H1008
"Bethel"
N-proper
Bethel, meaning house of God, is a significant location in the Bible, particularly in the book of Genesis. It was a place of worship and sacrifice, where Jacob had a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven. The name Bethel signifies its importance as a spiritual site, where God was believed to dwell.
Definition: § Bethel = "house of God" a place in south country of Judah
Usage: Occurs in 65 OT verses. KJV: Beth-el. See also: Genesis 12:8; 1 Samuel 30:27; Jeremiah 48:13.
וְ/הָ/עָ֔י
ʻAy
H5857
"Ai"
Conj | Art | N-proper
Ai means 'heap of ruins', a city in Palestine east of the Jordan River, mentioned in the Bible as part of the Ammonites' territory. It appears in the book of Joshua and is associated with Heshbon. The city's name reflects its history of destruction.
Definition: § Ai or Aija or Aiath or Hai = "heap of ruins" a city of the Ammonites on the east of the Jordan and apparently attached to Heshbon
Usage: Occurs in 34 OT verses. KJV: Ai, Aija, Aijath, Hai. See also: Genesis 12:8; Joshua 8:20; Isaiah 10:28.
מֵאָ֖ה
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.
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
"twenty"
Adj
This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.
Definition: twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Usage: Occurs in 281 OT verses. KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). See also: Genesis 6:3; 1 Kings 9:14; Ezra 2:19.
וּ/שְׁלֹשָֽׁה
shâlôwsh
H7969
"three"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word means three or thrice, and is used to describe quantities or repetitions in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including three, third, and thirteen.
Definition: 1) three, triad 1a) 3, 300, third Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
Usage: Occurs in 381 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare H7991 (שָׁלִישׁ). See also: Genesis 5:22; Joshua 1:11; 2 Kings 9:32.
Study Notes — Nehemiah 7:32
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The List of Returning Exiles
30the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
31the men of Michmash, 122;
32the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
33the men of the other Nebo, 52; 34the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra 2:28 | the men of Bethel and Ai, 223; |
| 2 | Joshua 8:9 | So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night among the people. |
| 3 | Joshua 8:17 | Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel. |
Nehemiah 7:32 Summary
This verse is talking about a group of men from the towns of Bethel and Ai who returned to Jerusalem with Nehemiah after a time of exile. There were 123 of them, and they were part of a larger group of people who were returning to their homeland. This reminds us that God is interested in the details of our lives and the lives of our communities, as we see in verses like Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 10:30. Just like the men of Bethel and Ai, we can be part of a larger community of believers and work together to build each other up and care for one another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the men of Bethel and Ai listed together in Nehemiah 7:32?
The men of Bethel and Ai are listed together because they were likely neighboring towns or had some other connection, as seen in other biblical accounts such as Genesis 12:8 and Ezra 2:28.
What is the significance of the number 123 in this verse?
The number 123 represents the number of men from Bethel and Ai who returned to Jerusalem with Nehemiah, as part of the larger group of Israelites returning from exile, as described in Ezra 2:1-64 and Nehemiah 7:1-73.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Nehemiah?
This verse is part of a larger list of people who returned to Jerusalem with Nehemiah, which is a key part of the book's narrative, as seen in Nehemiah 7:1-73 and Nehemiah 11:1-12:26.
What can we learn from the fact that the men of Bethel and Ai are mentioned specifically in this verse?
The fact that the men of Bethel and Ai are mentioned specifically suggests that God is concerned with the details of our lives and the lives of our communities, as seen in Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to be part of a community of believers, and how can I contribute to the well-being of my own community?
- How does the fact that the men of Bethel and Ai were returning to Jerusalem after a time of exile relate to my own experiences of returning to God or to a place of spiritual refreshment?
- What are some ways that I can practically support and care for my neighbors and fellow believers, as the men of Bethel and Ai were likely doing as they returned to Jerusalem?
- How can I balance the desire to be part of a larger community with the need to maintain my own unique identity and sense of purpose, as the men of Bethel and Ai had their own distinct identity as a group?
Gill's Exposition on Nehemiah 7:32
[See comments on Ne 7:6].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 7:32
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 7:32
(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.