Nehemiah 7:21
What does Nehemiah 7:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 7:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 7:21 means
The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight, are listed. Though small, this group is not overlooked. Their explicit link “of Hezekiah” clarifies identity and avoids conflation with other similarly named lines. Even a group under a hundred is vital in a fragile community: more hands to rebuild, more voices for worship, more watchmen for the walls. The record affirms that the return was not only a great national event but also a mosaic of small households whose faithfulness mattered. Precision guards their inheritance and their responsibilities within the restored nation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Sons of Ater of Hezekiah: ninety and eight.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The children of Ater, children of Hezechias, ninety-eight.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The children of Ater of [the family of] Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
Context
As part of the continuing family tallies (verses 8–25), verse 21 highlights a small but carefully identified subgroup. This specificity serves the chapter’s larger purpose: to ensure accurate recognition of who belongs. Such clarity is indispensable when, later, some claimants lack proofs and must be restricted (verses 61–65). The list will continue through various clans until verse 25, then move to town-based entries (verses 26–38), followed by religious service groups (verses 39–45) and support personnel (verses 46–60), before summing totals and gifts (verses 66–72).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 2:16
The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
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