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Nehemiah 7:4

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Nehemiah 7:4 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

King James Version KJV

Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.

American Standard Version ASV

Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.

Bible in Basic English BBE

Now the town was wide and great: but the people in it were only a small number, and the houses had not been put up.

Free Bible Version FBV

In those times the city was large with plenty of space, but there weren't many people in it, and the houses hadn't been rebuilt.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Nowe the citie was large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not buylded.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And the city [is] broad on both sides, and great, and the people [are] few in its midst, and there are no houses builded;

World English Bible WEB

Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Now the city was large and great: but the people in it were few, and the houses were not built.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And the city was very wide and great, and the people few in the midst thereof, and the houses were not built.

Translation for Translators T4T

The city of Jerusalem covered a large area, but at that time not many people lived in the city, and they had not built many new houses yet [HYP].

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Nehemiah 7:4

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 7:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB וְ/הָ/עִ֞יר רַחֲבַ֤ת יָדַ֨יִם֙ וּ/גְדוֹלָ֔ה וְ/הָ/עָ֥ם מְעַ֖ט בְּ/תוֹכָ֑/הּ וְ/אֵ֥ין בָּתִּ֖ים בְּנוּיִֽם
וְ/הָ/עִ֞יר ʻîyr H5892 excitement Conj | Art | N-fs
רַחֲבַ֤ת râchâb H7342 broad Adj
יָדַ֨יִם֙ yâd H3027 hand N-cd
וּ/גְדוֹלָ֔ה gâdôwl H1419 Great (Sea) Conj | Adj
וְ/הָ/עָ֥ם ʻam H5971 Amaw Conj | Art | N-ms
מְעַ֖ט mᵉʻaṭ H4592 little N-ms
בְּ/תוֹכָ֑/הּ tâvek H8432 midst Prep | N-ms | Suff
וְ/אֵ֥ין ʼayin H369 nothing Conj | Part
בָּתִּ֖ים bayith H1004 place N-mp
בְּנוּיִֽם bânâh H1129 to build V-Qal-Inf-c
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Nehemiah 7:4

וְ/הָ/עִ֞יר ʻîyr H5892 "excitement" Conj | Art | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
רַחֲבַ֤ת râchâb H7342 "broad" Adj
This word means broad or wide, describing something that is roomy or spacious. It can also mean proud or arrogant, and is used to describe a person's attitude. In the KJV, it is translated as broad or large.
Definition: broad, wide Also means: ra.chav (רָחָב ": arrogant" H7342I)
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: broad, large, at liberty, proud, wide. See also: Genesis 34:21; Job 30:14; Psalms 101:5.
יָדַ֨יִם֙ yâd H3027 "hand" N-cd
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Definition: : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists
Usage: Occurs in 1446 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 7:19; Leviticus 14:22.
וּ/גְדוֹלָ֔ה gâdôwl H1419 "Great (Sea)" Conj | Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Definition: adj great Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)
Usage: Occurs in 499 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. See also: Genesis 1:16; Joshua 7:26; 1 Kings 20:13.
וְ/הָ/עָ֥ם ʻam H5971 "Amaw" Conj | Art | N-ms
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
מְעַ֖ט mᵉʻaṭ H4592 "little" N-ms
This Hebrew word means something is small or little in amount, like a few people or a short time. It appears in various Bible translations as almost, few, or small. In the Bible, it often describes something that is limited or lacking.
Definition: 1) littleness, few, a little, fewness 1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little 1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 18:4; Job 15:11; Psalms 2:12.
בְּ/תוֹכָ֑/הּ tâvek H8432 "midst" Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word refers to the middle or center of something, such as a group of people or a physical space. It can also mean among or between things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Definition: 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:6; Numbers 35:5; 2 Chronicles 32:4.
וְ/אֵ֥ין ʼayin H369 "nothing" Conj | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
בָּתִּ֖ים bayith H1004 "place" N-mp
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
בְּנוּיִֽם bânâh H1129 "to build" V-Qal-Inf-c
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:22; 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 20:8.

Study Notes — Nehemiah 7:4

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Isaiah 58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.
2 Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
3 Haggai 1:4–6 “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”

Nehemiah 7:4 Summary

Nehemiah 7:4 tells us that the city of Jerusalem was very large, but there were not many people living in it, and the houses were still in ruins. This was because many of the city's inhabitants had been taken away to Babylon, as mentioned in 2 Kings 25:11. Just like Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt, our lives and communities can also need restoration, as seen in Psalm 51:10 and Jeremiah 31:4. As we seek to follow God and rebuild our lives, we can trust that He will provide what we need, just as He did for the Israelites when they returned to Jerusalem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the city of Jerusalem large and spacious but with few people in it?

The city was large and spacious but had few people because many of its inhabitants had been taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, as recorded in 2 Kings 25:11, and had not yet returned to rebuild and repopulate the city.

What is the significance of the houses not being rebuilt in Nehemiah 7:4?

The fact that the houses had not yet been rebuilt indicates that the returnees from exile were still in the process of restoring Jerusalem, a task that would require time, effort, and resources, as mentioned in Ezra 4:24 and Haggai 1:4.

How does Nehemiah 7:4 relate to the overall theme of restoration in the book of Nehemiah?

Nehemiah 7:4 highlights the need for physical and spiritual restoration in Jerusalem, which is a central theme of the book of Nehemiah, as seen in verses like Nehemiah 1:3 and Nehemiah 2:17-18, where Nehemiah prays for and works towards the rebuilding of the city.

What can we learn from the contrast between the size of the city and the small number of people in Nehemiah 7:4?

The contrast between the large city and the few people in it serves as a reminder that God can take a small and seemingly insignificant group of people and use them to accomplish great things, as seen in examples like Gideon's army in Judges 7:1-7 and the early church in Acts 2:41-47.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some areas in my life where I feel like there is a 'large and spacious' opportunity, but I lack the resources or manpower to fulfill it, and how can I trust God to provide what I need?
  2. In what ways can I, like the returnees in Nehemiah's time, be a part of rebuilding and restoring the spiritual and physical needs of my community?
  3. How does the idea of 'rebuilding' and 'restoring' apply to my own life, and what steps can I take to allow God to renew and restore me, as promised in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Isaiah 61:4?
  4. What are some ways that I can, like Nehemiah, prioritize the work of God and seek to bring glory to Him, even in the midst of challenging circumstances, as seen in Nehemiah 6:3 and Daniel 6:10?

Gill's Exposition on Nehemiah 7:4

Now the city was large and great,.... The circumference of it, all within the wall; for that was built on its old foundation, and enclosed as much ground as ever it did: Hecataeus (b), an Heathen

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 7:4

Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. Now the city was large and great.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:4

i.e. Not all, nor completely built; but only some slight buildings of boards or stones were made for the present use of the generality of the people.

Trapp's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:4

Nehemiah 7:4 Now the city [was] large and great: but the people [were] few therein, and the houses [were] not builded.Ver. 4. Now the city was large] Heb. Broad in spans or spaces. And great] Yet nothing so great as Nineveh was of old; or Babylon then; or Alcair and Quinsay at this day. Of the former Bunting saith, that it is sixty miles in compass. Of the latter, Paulus Venetus (who himself dwelt therein about the year 1260) writeth, that it is a hundred miles about, being of all the cities in the world the greatest. Jerusalem was a great city and spacious, though it fell far short of these. And the people were few therein] But how exceedingly they multiplied afterwards appeareth by those many thousands of persons there destroyed and carried away by the Romans at the last desolation; as testifieth Josephus, an eyewitness, quem lege, et luge, what he collected and lamented. For present, they were so few that they were not able, without help, to defend the walls in so large a circuit. And the houses were not builded] All could not be done in a day. But some ceiled houses there were, Haggai 1:4, and Nehemiah was all his time busy in building the old waste places, and raising up the foundations of many generations; so that he was worthily called, "The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in," Isaiah 58:12. Eusebius saith, Nehemiah was twelve years in building the walls; he should have said, the city. Jerome likewise saith, that he came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and made an end of building the wall and city in the two and thirtieth year; so that, during the whole twelve years of his government, he was in action.

Ellicott's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:4

VII.(1-4) Measures were taken for the security of the city, now made a complete fortress. The comparative thinness of the population taxed the governor’s resources, and the result appears at a later stage. (1) Were appointed.—Placed in charge, probably over all the walls. This was an extraordinary provision, to be explained by the fact that these organised bodies formed a large proportion of the inhabitants. The Levites had usually guarded only the Temple. (2) Hanani.—Who probably had returned from Susa with his brother. Hananiah the ruler of the palace.—Commander of the fortress, as in Nehemiah 2:8. He was in the immediate service of the Persian king, but his chief recommendation was his piety, which distinguished him from too many of the other rulers. (3) Until the sun be hot.—General directions were given that the gates should not be thrown open so early as sunrise; they were to be opened and barred again while the guard was present; and the inhabitants were to be divided for night-watches, part on the walls and part before their own houses. (4) Large and great.—Literally, broad on both sides, with large unoccupied spaces. The houses were not builded.—In sufficient numbers to provide the requisite population for the city of God. The emphasis is on the fact that the people were few.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:4

Verse 4. The houses were not builded.] The city was not yet rebuilt, only a row of houses in the inside of the wall all round.

Cambridge Bible on Nehemiah 7:4

4. large and great] R.V. wide and large. The phrase rendered ‘wide’ (cf. Genesis 34:21; Judges 18:10) denotes extension on every side; its literal rendering would be ‘wide on both hands.’ the people were few] The inhabitants of Jerusalem were in Nehemiah’s time very few in comparison with what they had been before the captivity, see Nehemiah 11:1-2. The number of Jews that had returned with Zerubbabel had been 42360 (Ezra 2:64; Nehemiah 7:66). With Ezra there had come rather more than 1500 (Ezra 8:1-20). Others had come from time to time. But of the whole number of 50,000 or so, a very large proportion were settled in the country and towns in the neighbourhood, as appears from Nehemiah 7:73, Nehemiah 11:25-36, Nehemiah 12:27-29. the houses were not builded] An expression that cannot be understood literally. The meaning is, there were large open spaces within the walls unoccupied.

Barnes' Notes on Nehemiah 7:4

The people were few - The number of those who returned with Zerubbabel was no more than 42,360 Nehemiah 7:66. Less than 2,000 people had come with Ezra Ezra 8:1-20.

Whedon's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:4

OF THE PEOPLE, Nehemiah 7:4-73. 4. The city was large — Broad-sided, extensive; so that it required many watchers to keep guard on every side.

Sermons on Nehemiah 7:4

SermonDescription
David Wilkerson (Israel) Preaching Christ With Authority by David Wilkerson In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of preaching the word of God with spiritual authority. He shares a personal experience of a young man who came seeking wisdom
George Warnock Charlotte Seminar 5-25-00 Pm by George Warnock In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of God spreading a table and inviting people to partake in a feast. He emphasizes the importance of seeking God's burden and not t
Art Katz What Is a Good Work by Art Katz In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the concept of pleasure and how it can lead people away from total obedience to God. The speaker shares a personal experience of being distr
Carter Conlon What Will We Do When Jesus Knocks? by Carter Conlon In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following God's chosen fast, which involves helping those in need and showing compassion. He highlights the power of God t
Dale Heisey (Apostolic Vision) the Healing Community by Dale Heisey In this sermon, the speaker discusses the process of restoring someone who has fallen into sin within the church community. He shares a specific example of a young man who engaged
Shane Idleman If the Foundations Are Destroyed by Shane Idleman Shane Idleman emphasizes the critical role of the church in guiding society during turbulent times, asserting that if the foundations of truth are destroyed, the righteous must act
R.H. Miller The Glory of the Latter House by R.H. Miller R. H. Miller preaches about the importance of the social and public mission of the church, emphasizing that Christianity is intertwined with social responsibilities and forms, and
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