Ezra 2:58

What does Ezra 2:58 mean?

A plain-English look at Ezra 2:58 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ezra 2:58 means

All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon’s servants totaled three hundred ninety and two. This summary emphasizes that these servant classes were a sizeable body, crucial to the functioning of the temple. By giving a combined total, the text highlights their collective contribution without diminishing their distinct identities. Their numbers reassure readers that practical support for worship would not be lacking in the restored community.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred and ninety-two.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

All the Nethinim, and the sons of the servants of Solomon <FI>are<Fi> three hundred ninety and two.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon, three hundred ninety-two.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon's servants, three hundred and ninety-two.

Context

After listing numerous Nethinim families and those of Solomon’s servants, this verse provides a combined headcount. With the servant classes accounted for, the chapter will now address a delicate matter: groups who came from certain places but could not verify their Israelite or priestly genealogy (vv. 59–63). This transition underscores the importance of purity and proper lineage for specific roles, particularly within the priesthood.

v.57the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami.

v.58This passage

v.59And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, andImmer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Joshua 9:21

    And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.

  • Ezra 7:7

    And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

  • 1 Kings 9:21

    their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a levy of bondservants unto this day.

  • Joshua 9:23

    Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

  • 1 Chronicles 9:2

    Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

  • Joshua 9:27

    And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

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