Nehemiah 7:45
What does Nehemiah 7:45 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 7:45 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 7:45 means
The porters—children of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai—number a hundred thirty and eight (138). Gatekeepers maintained the temple’s sanctity and security, controlling access and guarding sacred spaces. Their inclusion shows that worship requires practical guardianship as well as spiritual leadership. Recording their lines and count provides for organized shifts and accountability. This role also complements Nehemiah’s broader concern for city gates and watches. The entry affirms that holy things must be rightly protected, and that the restored community has appointed, recognized personnel to ensure reverent order in the house of God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The door-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai: a hundred thirty and eight.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The children of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The doorkeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight.
Context
Verse 45 concludes the immediate list of core temple roles: priests (verses 39–42), Levites (verse 43), singers (verse 44), and porters (verse 45). The chapter will now expand to the Nethinim (verses 46–56) and the children of Solomon’s servants (verses 57–60), groups who supported temple operations. This progression clarifies how comprehensive the temple’s staffing needed to be. Later, attention will turn to those with uncertain lineages (verses 61–65), reinforcing why such detailed records are necessary to preserve the purity and order of worship.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 2:42
The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a hundred thirty and nine.
- 1 Chronicles 26:1
For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
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