Nehemiah 11:18
What does Nehemiah 11:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 11:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 11:18 means
The total number of Levites in Jerusalem is given as 284. This succinct figure conveys readiness and structure: a significant cadre was present to support priests, lead worship, teach, and maintain sacred spaces. In the wake of exile, such a number indicates God’s provision for sustained temple service, not merely occasional ceremonies. Quantifying the Levites reassures the community that regular worship and instruction could proceed. It also demonstrates equity: as priests were many and organized, so too were the Levites, ensuring the full system of ministry envisioned in the law functioned within the restored city.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
KJV
King James Version · 1611All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949All the Levites in the holy town were two hundred and eighty-four.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862All the Levites, in the holy city, <FI>are<Fi> two hundred eighty and four.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890all the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.
Context
After identifying specific Levites and their roles (vv. 15–17), verse 18 provides a total, signaling that the Levite complement in Jerusalem is complete and adequate. The next verse will list the gatekeepers and their number, further rounding out the temple’s personnel. Together these verses form a coherent picture of a staffed sanctuary within a repopulated city, supporting the chapter’s larger theme of careful, godly administration in the post-exilic community.
v.17and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
v.18This passage
v.19Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, that kept watch at the gates, were a hundred seventy and two.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 11:1
And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in theothercities.
- Matthew 24:15
When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
- Daniel 9:24
Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
- Matthew 27:53
and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.
- 1 Kings 11:13
Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.
- Revelation 21:2
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
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