Nehemiah 5:17

Authorized King James Version

Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהַיְּהוּדִ֨ים
of the Jews
a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)
#2
וְהַסְּגָנִ֜ים
and rulers
a prfect of a province
#3
מֵאָ֧ה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#4
וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים
and fifty
fifty
#5
אִ֗ישׁ
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#6
וְהַבָּאִ֥ים
beside those that came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#7
אֵלֵ֛ינוּ
near, with or among; often in general, to
#8
מִן
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#9
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם
unto us from among the heathen
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#10
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#11
סְבִֽיבֹתֵ֖ינוּ
that are about us
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
#12
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#13
שֻׁלְחָנִֽי׃
Moreover there were at my table
a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal

Analysis

Within the broader context of Nehemiah, this passage highlights kingdom of God through declarative statements that establish theological truth. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of Nehemiah.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on kingdom of God particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection