Nehemiah 7:6

Authorized King James Version

These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
אֵ֣לֶּה׀
H428
these or those
#2
בְּנֵ֣י
H1121
These are the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#3
הַמְּדִינָ֗ה
H4082
of the province
properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
#4
הָֽעֹלִים֙
H5927
that went up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#5
מִשְּׁבִ֣י
H7628
out of the captivity
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
#6
הַגּוֹלָ֔ה
H1473
of those that had been carried away
exile; concretely and collectively exiles
#7
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#8
הֶגְלָ֔ה
H1540
had carried away
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
#9
נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר
H5019
whom Nebuchadnezzar
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
#10
מֶ֣לֶךְ
H4428
the king
a king
#11
בָּבֶ֑ל
H894
of Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
#12
וַיָּשׁ֧וּבוּ
H7725
and came again
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#13
לִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם
H3389
to Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#14
וְלִֽיהוּדָ֖ה
H3063
and to Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#15
אִ֥ישׁ
H376
every one
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)
#16
לְעִירֽוֹ׃
H5892
unto his city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

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 salvation 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