Nehemiah 11:6
What does Nehemiah 11:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 11:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 11:6 means
Here the text totals “all the sons of Perez” who lived in Jerusalem: 468 “valiant men.” Calling them valiant may point to proven reliability, courage, and capability—qualities critical for a recently fortified yet vulnerable city. The number is substantial for a post-exilic community, showing a strong Judahite presence alongside other tribes and groups. This numerical accounting communicates preparedness: Jerusalem was not only repopulated but populated with able men who could serve in civic, protective, and communal roles. It underscores the organized nature of the restoration, where genealogy and strength combined to secure the city’s future.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000All the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
KJV
King James Version · 1611All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901All the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949All the sons of Perez living in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight men of good position.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862all the sons of Perez who are dwelling in Jerusalem <FI>are<Fi> four hundred sixty and eight, men of valour.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All these the sons of Phares, who dwelt in Jerusalem, were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890All the children of Pherez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
Context
After naming Judahite representatives (vv. 4–5), verse 6 provides a tally of the Perezites in Jerusalem, highlighting both quantity and quality. This closes the immediate Judah segment by stressing their contribution to the city’s stability. The narrative will now move to Benjamin in verses 7–9, listing prominent men and their administrative overseers. The progression from names to numbers to leadership reflects a thoughtful rebuilding strategy: identify legitimate families, assess their strength, and appoint leaders to guide the community’s life within the capital.
v.5and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.
v.6This passage
v.7And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.
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