Nehemiah 12:16 — Word Study
WLCלְעִדּ֥וֹא זְכַרְיָ֖ה לְגִנְּת֥וֹן מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃
BSAZechariahZᵉkaryâh [Jehovah remembers] of GinnethonGinnᵉthôwn [a priest who returned to Jerusalem] MeshullamMᵉshullâm [a name given to 17 different Israelites]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְעִדּ֥וֹא | of Iddo | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| זְכַרְיָ֖ה | Zechariah | Noun proper masculine |
| לְגִנְּת֥וֹן | of Ginnethon | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃ | Meshullam | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; |
| KJV | Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; |
| ASV | of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; |
| YLT | of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; |
| WEB | of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; |
| BBE | Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; |
Where they part company is in the additional context provided for each name — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase listing additional names, typical of genealogical records.
2 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Nehemiah 12:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Genealogy of the Priestsgenerated
Nehemiah 12:16 lists the names of priests who returned from Babylonian exile, emphasizing their roles in the restoration of Jerusalem. This verse is part of a larger genealogy that traces the lineage of those who served in the temple, illustrating the continuity of worship and service among the Israelites after their return, as seen in the preceding and following verses.
Cross References
The Key Word — עִדֹּוא, la.'a.da.ya'generated
The name עִדּוֹ (Iddo) means 'His witness' and is associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, including a prophet's grandfather and a priest during Nehemiah's time. The parsing indicates that it is a proper noun in the masculine form, reflecting its use as a name.
Iddo's significance in the biblical narrative is highlighted by his commonality among Israelites, suggesting a shared heritage and identity. His mention here connects the priestly lineage to the history of Israel, particularly during the return from exile.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which translates the names directly, maintaining the historical context.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse consists of a series of noun phrases connected by prepositional phrases. The main finite verb is implicit, as the verse lists names rather than actions.
The order of the names reflects a traditional Hebrew genealogical format, emphasizing the lineage of the priests. Each name is presented with its respective prepositional phrase, indicating their connection to their families.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עִדּוֹ as αδδαι, which maintains the name's identity while possibly reflecting a different phonetic interpretation. This choice shows a continuity in the understanding of the name across translations.
The translation of זְכַרְיָה as ζαξαριας similarly indicates a consistent recognition of the name's significance, aligning with the Hebrew meaning of 'Jehovah remembers.'
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nehemiah 12:16 lists the names of priests who returned from exile, including Iddo, Zechariah, Ginnethon, and Meshullam. These names highlight the importance of their roles in the restoration of Jerusalem and connect them to their heritage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Iddo was a common name among Israelites, meaning 'His witness,' and refers to several individuals, including a priest during Nehemiah's time.
Zechariah means 'Jehovah remembers' and was a name given to many Israelites, including a prophet.
Ginnethon was a priest who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel after the exile, noted for his covenant with Nehemiah.
Meshullam was a common name given to 17 different Israelites, meaning 'friend' and appearing in various biblical contexts.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do these names hold in the context of Israel's return from exile?
- How do the roles of these priests reflect the restoration of worship in Jerusalem?
- In what ways can understanding these genealogies deepen our appreciation for biblical history?
- How might the meanings of these names influence our understanding of their characters?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 12:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOf Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Nehemiah 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12-26) List of representatives of Zerubbabel’s priests in the days of Joiakim; to which is added an account of the Levites in his day. Between these there is an interpolation (Nehemiah 12:22-23).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Tyndale line
Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Gennethon, Meshullam;
Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Vnder Iddo, Zechariah, vnder Ginnithon, Meshullam,
Strictly literal
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Of 'Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Zechariah was the leader of Iddo, Meshullam was the leader of Ginnethon, and
From the Latin
Of Adaia, Zacharia: of Genthon, Mosollam:
Simplified
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the names listed in this verse, maintaining the same individuals and their order. The Septuagint's word order differs from the Hebrew but matches the names, showing a consistent tradition in the transmission of this genealogical record.
לְעִדּ֥וֹא זְכַרְיָ֖ה לְגִנְּת֥וֹן מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Nehemiah 12:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עִדּוֹ (Iddo) is a Hebrew name meaning 'His witness.' It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a Levite, a priest, and a seer. Notably, Iddo is the father of Abinadab, an officer under Solomon, and the grandfather of the prophet Zechariah. The entries highlight his various roles throughout different periods, including the time of the United Monarchy and the Exile.
עִדּוֹ, עִדֹּא, עִדּוֹא n.pr.m. Iddo
father of an officer of Sol.
grandfather of prophet Zechariah
a Levite
a priestly name
a seer
base
H5714 עִדּוֹ, עִדֹּא, עִדּוֹא, עִדִּיא
5714 `Iddow id-do'
or iIddowo {id-do'}; or tIddiy {id-dee'}; from 5710; timely;
Iddo (or Iddi), the name of five Israelites:--Iddo. Compare
3035, 3260.
see HEBREW for 05710
see HEBREW for 03035
see HEBREW for 03260
עִדּוֹ (id.do) — Iddo.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.14;
father of: Ahinadab (H0292)
§ Iddo = "His witness"
1) father of Abinadab, an officer of Solomon
2) grandfather of the prophet Zechariah
3) a Gershonite Levite, son of Joah
4) a priest in the time of Nehemiah
5) a seer in the time of king Jeroboam of the northern kingdom of Israel
6) son of Zechariah, ruler of the tribe of Manasseh in the time of David
7) a chief of the temple slaves who assembled at Casiphia at the time of the 2nd caravan from Babylon
עִדּוֹ (id.do) — Iddo.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.21;
son of: Joah (H3098H);
father of: Zerah (H2226J); also called Adaiah at 1Ch.6.41;
Also named: a.da.yah (עֲדָיָ֫הוּ "Adaiah" H5718N)
§ Iddo = "His witness"
1) father of Abinadab, an officer of Solomon
HR/Npm — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
id'-o:
(1) ('iddo (?[~'adhadh, "to be strong"), "hap," "happy" (?), Ezr 8:17): The "chief at the place Casiphia," who provided Ezra with Levites and Nethinim, the head of the Levitical body or school, said to be one of the Nethinim or temple slaves, but perhaps an "and" has slipped out, and it should read: "his brethren and the Nethinim." 1 Esdras 8:45,46 has "Loddeus (the King James Version "Saddeus"), the captain who was in the place of the treasury," keceph meaning silver. Septuagint has "in the place of the silver (en argurio tou topou) .... to his brethren and to the treasurers."
(2) (yiddo, "beloved," or "loving," 1Ch 27:21): Son of Zechariah, and captain of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, under David.
Iddo
(1.) Timely (1 Chr. 6:21). A Gershonite Levite.
(2.) Lovely. The son of Zechariah (1 Chr. 27:21), the ruler of Manasseh in David’s time.
(3.) Timely. The father of Ahinadab, who was one of Solomon’s purveyors (1 Kings 4:14).
(4.) Lovely. A prophet of Judah who wrote the history of Rehoboam and Abijah (2 Chr. 12:15). He has been identified with Oded (2 Chr. 15:1).
(timely or lovely). The father of Abinadab. (1 Kings 4:14) A descendant of Gershom, son of Levi. (1 Chronicles 6:21) Son of Zechariah, ruler of the tribe of Manasseh east of Jordan in the time of David. (1 Chronicles 27:21) (B.C. 1014.) A seer whose "visions" against Jeroboam incidentally contained some of the acts of Solomon. (2 Chronicles 9:29) He appears to have written a chronicle or story relating to the life and reign of Abijah. (2 Chronicles 13:22) (B.C. 961.) The grandfather of the prophet Zechariah. (Zechariah 1:1,7) The chief of those who assembled at…
A prophet of Judah, who prophesied against Jeroboam, and wrote the history of Rehoboam and Abijah, 2Ch 9:29 12:15 13:22. Josephus and others are of opinion that he was sent to he, who was killed by a lion, 1Ki 13:1-25. Several other persons of this name are mentioned in Scripture, 1Ch 27:21 Ezr 10:44 Zec 1:1.
זְכַרְיָהוּ (Zkaryah) means 'Jehovah remembers' and refers to various figures in the Old Testament, including a prophet and several individuals from the tribe of Levi. The entries highlight a range of roles, from kings and priests to Levites and returned exiles, with notable mentions of a prophet contemporary with Isaiah. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
זְכַרְיָהוּ, oftener זְכַרְיָה n.pr.m.
king of Isr., son of Jerob. II
father of Hezekiah’s mother
contemporary of Isaiah
a Reubenite
a Benjamite
a Manassite
a son of Jehoshaphat
a captain of Jehosh.
teacher of Uzziah
Levites
priests
returned exiles
base
זְכַרְיָה n.pr.m. prophet
base
H2148a זְכַרְיָהוּ, oftener זְכַרְיָה H2148b זְכַרְיָה prophet
2148 Zkaryah zek-ar-yaw'
or Zkaryahuw {zek-ar-yaw'-hoo}; from 2142 and 3050; Jah has
remembered; Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine
Israelites:--Zachariah, Zechariah.
see HEBREW for 02142
see HEBREW for 03050
זְכַרְיָהוּ (ze.khar.yah) — Zechariah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.21;
son of: Meshelemiah (H4920);
brother of: Jediael (H3043J), Zebadiah (H2069J), Jathniel (H3496), Elam (H5867H), Jehohanan (H3076I) and Eliehoenai (H0454A)
§ Zechariah = "Jehovah remembers"
1) king of Israel, son of Jeroboam II
2) son of Meshelemiah of Shelemiah, a Korhite, and keeper of the north gate of the tabernacle of the congregation
3) one of the sons of Jehiel
4) a Levite of the second order in the temple band in the time of David
5) one of the princes of Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat
6) son of the high priest Jehoiada, in the reign of Joash king of Judah, who was stoned in the court of the temple
7) a Kohathite Levite in the reign of Josiah
8) the leader of the sons of Pharosh who returned with Ezra
9) son of Bebai
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Zechariah
Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1.) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as “the son of Berechiah.” In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 he is called “the son of Iddo,” who was properly his grandfather. His prophetical career began in the second year of Darius (B.C. 520), about sixteen years after the return of the first company from exile. He was contemporary with Haggai (Ezra 5:1).
His book consists of two distinct parts, (1) chapters 1 to 8, inclusive, and (2) 9 to the end. It begins with a preface (1:1-6), which recalls the nation’s past history, for the purpose of presenting a solemn warning to the present generation. Then follows a series of eight visions (1:7-6:8), succeeding…
The eleventh in order of the twelve minor prophets. He is called in his prophecy the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo, whereas in the book of Ezra, (Ezra 5:1; 6:14) he is said to have been the son of Iddo. It is natural to suppose as the prophet himself mentions his father’s name, whereas the book of Ezra mentions only Iddo, that Berechiah had died early, and that there was now no intervening link between the grandfather and the grandson. Zechariah, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel before him, was priest as well as prophet. He seems to have entered upon his office while yet young, (Zechariah 2:4) and must have been born in Babylon whence he returned with the first caravan of exiles under Zerubbabel and Jeshua. It was in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, that he first…
1. Son of Berechiah, and grandson of Iddo the priest; called the son of Iddo in Ezr 5:1 6:14, and his successor in the priesthood, Ne 12:4,16, perhaps because Berechiah was then dead. Zechariah is the eleventh of the minor prophets. He returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, and began to prophesy while yet young, Zec 2:4, in the second year of Darius son of Hystaspes, B. C. 520, in the eighth month of the holy year, and two months after Haggai. These two prophets, with united zeal, encouraged the people to resume the work of the temple, which had been discontinued for some years, Ezr 5:1.
same as Zachariah
גִּנְּתוֹן (Ginnethon) refers to a priest who returned from exile, noted for his covenant with Nehemiah. The name is derived from a root meaning 'gardener.' He is mentioned in Nehemiah 10:6 and also referred to as Ginnetho in Nehemiah 12:4. The lexicons consistently identify him as a significant figure among the exiles.
גִּנְּתוֹן n.pr.m. a priest among the returned exiles
base
H1599 גִּנְּתוֹן
1599 Ginnthown ghin-neth-one
or Ginnthow {ghin-neth-o'}; from 1598; gardener; Ginnethon or
Ginnetho, an Israelite:--Ginnetho, Ginnethon.
see HEBREW for 01598
גִּנְּתוֹן (gin.n.ton) — Ginnethon.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.10.6; also called Ginnethoi (KJV: Ginnetho) at Neh.12.4;
§ Ginnetho or Ginnethon = "gardener"
a priest among the exiles who returned with Zerubbabel and who covenanted with Nehemiah
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
(gardener), a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:6) (B.C. 410.)
→ Also called GINNETHO, a companion of Nehemiah Ne 10:6; 12:4,16
מְשֻׁלָּם (Mshullam) is a Hebrew name meaning 'friend.' It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a grandfather of Shaphan, a son of Zerubbabel, and various Benjamites and Levites involved in rebuilding Jerusalem. The name appears in contexts related to the Divided Monarchy and post-exilic restoration, notably in 2 Kings 22:3 and Ezra 10:29.
מְשֻׁלָּם n.pr.m.
grandfather of Shaphan
son of Zerub.
in Benj.
in Gad
wall-builders
a chief
H4918 מְשֻׁלָּם
4918 Mshullam mesh-ool-lawm'
from 7999; allied; Meshullam, the name of seventeen
Israelites:--Meshullam.
see HEBREW for 07999
מְשֻׁלָּם (me.shul.lam) — Meshullam.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ki.22.3;
father of: Azaliah (H0683)
§ Meshullam = "friend"
1) grandfather of Shaphan, the scribe
2) son of Zerubbabel
3) a Benjamite of the sons of Elpaal
4) a Benjamite, father of Sallu
5) a Benjamite who lived at Jerusalem after the captivity
6) a Benjamite
6a) perhaps the same as 3 or 4
7) a Gadite in the reign of king Jotham of Judah
8) son of Berechiah who assisted in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem
9) son of Besodeiah who assisted Jehoiada the son of Paseah in restoring the old gate of Jerusalem
10) a chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
11) father of Hilkiah and high priest probably in the reign of king Amon of Judah
11a) perhaps the same as 'Shallum'
12) a priest, son of Meshillemith or Meshillemoth, son of Immer, and ancestor of Maasiai or Amashai
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Meshullam
Befriended. (1.) One of the chief Gadites in Bashan in the time of Jotham (1 Chr. 5:13).
(2.) Grandfather of Shaphan, “the scribe,” in the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3).
(3.) A priest, father of Hilkiah (1 Chr. 9:11; Neh. 11:11), in the reign of Ammon; called Shallum in 1 Chr. 6:12.
(4.) A Levite of the family of Kohath (2 Chr. 34:12), in the reign of Josiah.
(5.) 1 Chr. 8:17.
(6.) 1 Chr. 3:19.
(friend). Ancestor of Shaphan the scribe. (2 Kings 22:3) The son of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:19) A Gadite in the reign of Jotham king of Judah. (1 Chronicles 5:13) A Benjamite, of the sons of Elpaal. (1 Chronicles 8:17) A Benjamite, father of Sallu. (1 Chronicles 9:7; Nehemiah 11:7) A Benjamite who lived at Jerusalem after the captivity. (1 Chronicles 9:8) The same as Shallum, who was high priest probably in the reign of Amon, and father of Hilkiah. (1 Chronicles…
peaceable; perfect; their parables