Nehemiah 3:22 — Word Study
WLCוְאַחֲרָ֛יו הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַכִּכָּֽר׃
BSAAnd next to himʼachar the priestskôhên [men of God, spiritual leaders] from the surrounding areakikkâr [the plain, lowland] made repairschâzaq■ [strengthened, restored]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאַחֲרָ֛יו | and after him | Conjunction, suffix |
| הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ | they repaired | Verb, Hiphil, perfect third person common plural |
| הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים | the priests | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| אַנְשֵׁ֥י | [the] men of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| הַכִּכָּֽר׃ | the surrounding region | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And next to him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs. |
| KJV | And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. |
| ASV | And after him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain. |
| YLT | And after him have the priests, men of the circuit, strengthened. |
| WEB | After him, the priests, the men of the surrounding area made repairs. |
| BBE | After him were working the priests, the men of the lowland. |
Where they part company is חָזַק — see How Translations Differ.
The main verb governs the action of the priests, with a prepositional phrase providing context about their origin.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָזַק
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 3:22
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 Repairs of the Wallgenerated
Nehemiah 3:22 describes the collaborative efforts of the priests who worked on repairing the wall of Jerusalem. This verse highlights the importance of community involvement in rebuilding efforts, as various groups came together to restore the city. The priests, as spiritual leaders, played a key role in this task, emphasizing their commitment to both God and the community.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nehemiah 6:2 | Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. |
| 2 | Nehemiah 12:28 | The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָזַק, he.che.Zi.kugenerated
The Hebrew word חָזַק (*chazaq*) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm. In this context, it conveys the idea of the priests actively engaging in the repairs, demonstrating their strength and commitment to the task at hand.
The parsing indicates that this is a third person common plural verb in the Hiphil stem, which often denotes a causative action. Here, it suggests that the priests were not just passively involved; they took initiative in strengthening the wall.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ, they repaired, which governs the subject הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים, the priests. The phrase אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַכִּכָּֽר, men of the surrounding region, adds detail about who was involved in the repairs.
The structure emphasizes the collaborative effort of the priests, showing their active role in the restoration process.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, חָזַק is rendered as ἐκράτησαν, which means they seized or they held fast. This choice suggests a strong, assertive action in the repairs, emphasizing the priests' determination to restore the wall.
The use of a different Greek word may indicate a slight shift in focus from mere repair to a more vigorous assertion of strength in the rebuilding effort.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nehemiah 3:22 tells us that the priests from the surrounding area worked on repairs next to others. This shows their active involvement in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, highlighting the importance of community effort.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that the priests were actively involved in the restoration of the wall, demonstrating their leadership and commitment to the community.
It highlights that the priests came from nearby regions, emphasizing the collective effort of those involved in the rebuilding process.
Their participation shows the importance of spiritual leaders engaging in practical work for the community's benefit.
It illustrates the theme of communal effort and leadership in the restoration of Jerusalem, a key focus of Nehemiah's mission.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I actively participate in rebuilding efforts in my own community?
- What role do spiritual leaders play in supporting community initiatives?
- In what ways can I strengthen my commitment to serve others?
- How does the example of the priests inspire me to take action in my own life?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 3:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. Either of the plain of Jericho, where, in later times at least, there was a station of the priests, or of the plain about Jerusalem; those
Read John Gill on Nehemiah 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAfter him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Nehemiah 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEither of the plains of Jordan; or of the plain country round about Jerusalem, its it is called, . And they are thus called, because they, or their parents, either were born, or now did or formerly had dwelt, in those parks; whence they came to Jerusalem, when the service of the temple required it.
Read Matthew Poole on Nehemiah 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNehemiah 3:22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.Ver. 22. The men of the plain] Of the plain of Jordan, saith the Vulgar; but better understand it of the plain country round about Jerusalem, as Nehemiah 12:28.
Read John Trapp on Nehemiah 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22) The men of the plain.—Priests dwelling in the Jordan valley, the “Kikkar” of Scripture.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. The priests, the men of the plain.] Some of the officers of the temple, particularly the singers, dwelt in the plain country round about Jerusalem, Ne 12:28; and it is likely that several of the priests dwelt in the same place.
Read AdamClarke on Nehemiah 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges22. the priests, the men of the plain] R.V. the men of the Plain. R.V. marg. ‘Or, Circuit’. Literally, ‘the men of the Ciccar,’ LXX. Ἐκχεχάρ, Vulg. ‘de campestribus Jordanis.’ Some have explained the term to refer to the neighbourhood of Jerusalem according to its use in Nehemiah 12:28 ‘the Plain (or Circuit) round about Jerusalem.’ Others have explained its use in this passage by its technical application to the Jordan plain, Genesis 13:10; Genesis 19:17; 2 Samuel 18:23. As in Nehemiah 12:28 the reference to Jerusalem is carefully expressed, the absolute use of the word here may be thought to favour the latter signification. If so, the priests mentioned came from Jericho and the other…
Read Cambridge on Nehemiah 3 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible22. Men of the plain — Men whose residence was in the plains of Jericho or Jordan. ëëø, here rendered plain, is frequently applied to the lower end of the Jordan valley.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Nehemiah 3 →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
And next to him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.
After him, the priests, the men of the surrounding area made repairs.
And next to him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.
After him the priests worked, men of the nearby district.
Tyndale line
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain.
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain.
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
After him also fortified the Priests, the men of the playne.
Strictly literal
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain [of Jordan].
And after him have the priests, men of the circuit, strengthened.
And after him the priests, men of the circuit, have strengthened.
And next to him repaired the priests, the men of the plain [of Jordan].
Next to him the priests, the men from the area around Jerusalem, repaired.
From the Latin
And after him built the priests, the men of the plains of the Jordan.
Simplified
Next were repairs made by the priests from the surrounding area.
After him were working the priests, the men of the lowland.
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 in the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. This consistency reflects a shared understanding of the priests' role in the repairs.
וְאַחֲרָ֛יו הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַכִּכָּֽר׃
5 of the 5 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 3:22
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.
The Hebrew word אַחַר (*achar*) primarily denotes the concept of 'after' or 'behind' in both spatial and temporal contexts. It functions as a substantive, adverb, preposition, and conjunction, indicating a following part or time. The related form אַחֲרַי (*acharai*) refers to a person who turns backwards. There is a reference to Proverbs 28:23 in relation to the latter.
אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part
adv.
of place, behind
of time, afterwards
prep.
of place, behind, after
of time, after
conj. after that.
H310a אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part . adv. . of place, behind
. of time, afterwards
. prep. . of place, behind, after
. of time, after
. conj. after that.
H310b אַחֲרַי a man that turneth backwards.
310 'achar akh-ar'
from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an
adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after
(that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side),
behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from,
hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute,
posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth),
when, with.
see HEBREW for 0309
אַחַר (a.char) — after.
1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time)
1a) as an adverb
1a1) behind (of place)
1a2) afterwards (of time)
1b) as a preposition
1b1) behind, after (of place)
1b2) after (of time)
1b3) besides
1c) as a conjunction
1c) after that
1d) as a substantive
1d1) hinder part
1e) with other prepositions
1e1) from behind
1e2) from following after
אַחֲרַי (a.cha.ray) — backwards.
backwards (of a man that turns backwards)
Conj | Prep | Suff — Conjunction · suffixHC/Acmpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
Qal
intrans. be or grow strong
transit. only strengthened him not
Pi.
make strong (physically)
strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
make strong = bold, encourage
make firm
make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
Hiph.
make strong, strengthen
make firm, the kingdom
display strength
make severe, of battle
support
= repair
prevail
esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
Hithp.
strengthen oneself
put forth strength, use one's strength
withstand
hold strongly with
base
H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong
. transit. only strengthened him not
. . make strong (physically)
. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
. make strong = bold, encourage
. make firm
. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
. . . make strong, strengthen
. make firm, the kingdom
. display strength
. make severe, of battle
. support
. = repair
. prevail
. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
. . strengthen oneself
. put forth strength, use one's strength
. withstand
. hold strongly with
2388 chazaq khaw-zak'
a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong
(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,
repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,
amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,
constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),
encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make
hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play
the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,
repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be
stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),
be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.
: strengthen/support/encourage
1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be strong, grow strong
1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon
1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure
1a1c) to press, be urgent
1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)
1a1e) to be severe, be grievous
1a2) to strengthen
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make strong
1b2) to restore to strength, give strength
1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage
1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage
1b5) to make firm
1b6) to make rigid, make hard
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make strong, strengthen
1c2) to make firm
1c3) to display strength
1c4) to make severe
1c5) to support
1c6) to repair
1c7) to prevail, prevail upon
1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support
1c9) to hold, contain
1d) (Hithpael)
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common pluralHVhp3cp
כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.
כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest
base
H3548 כֹּהֵן priest
3548 kohen ko-hane'
active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a
priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a
layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal
officer.
see HEBREW for 03547
כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.
1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler
1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
1b) pagan priests
1c) priests of Jehovah
1d) Levitical priests
1e) Zadokite priests
1f) Aaronic priests
1g) the high priest
Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
אֱנוֹשׁ (enowsh) refers to man or mankind, often used in a poetic context. It denotes a mortal individual, distinguishing humans from more dignified terms for man. The word encompasses both singular and collective meanings, indicating people or persons in general. Its Aramaic equivalent is אֱנָשׁ (e.nash), also meaning 'man'.
אֱנוֹשׁ n.m. man, mankind, mostly poet.
of individ.
coll. men
man, mankind
base
H582 אֱנוֹשׁ man, mankind, mostly poet.
582 'enowsh en-oshe'
from 605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the
more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or
collectively):--another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain,
chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age,
husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some
( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often
unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in
apposition with another word . Compare 376.
see HEBREW for 0605
see HEBREW for 0120
see HEBREW for 0376
אֱנוֹשׁ (e.nosh) — human.
1) man, mortal man, person, mankind
1a) of an individual
1b) men (collective)
1c) man, mankind
Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
כִּכָּר (kikkar) refers to something round, encompassing meanings such as a round district, a round loaf of bread, or a round weight like a talent. It is derived from a root meaning 'circle' and is notably associated with the region around the Jordan Valley. The term also has an Aramaic equivalent, indicating its use in various contexts.
כִּכָּר n.f. a round: hence 1. a round district. 2. a round loaf. 3. a round weight, talent
base
H3603 כִּכָּר a round: hence 1. a round district. 2. a round loaf. 3. a round weight, talent
3603 kikkar kik-kawr'
from 3769; a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent
tract or region, expec. the Ghor or valley of the Jordan; also
a (round) loaf; also a talent (or large (round) coin):--loaf,
morsel, piece, plain, talent.
see HEBREW for 03769
כִּכָּר (kik.kar) — Plain (of Jericho).
This name means round, environs
כִּכָּר (kik.kar) — talent.
1) round
1a) a round district (environs of the Jordan valley)
1b) a round loaf (of bread)
1c) a round weight, talent (of gold, silver, bronze, iron)
Aramaic equivalent: kik.ker (כִּכֵּר "talent" H3604)
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
re'-jun: A "district," as in modern English. The word "region" is used by English Versions of the Bible interchangeably with "country," "coasts," etc., for various Hebrew and Greek terms, but "region round about" is usually in the King James Version and invariably in the Revised Version (British and American) the translation of perichoros, "surrounding country." For a possible technical use of "region" in Ac 16:6 and the Revised Version (British and American) 18:23.
See GALATIA.