Nehemiah 7:4
2 Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
3 And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. I found the genealogical register of those who had first returned, and I found the following written in it:
6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
- KJV
- Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
- WEB
- Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.
- ASV
- Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
- DARBY
- Now the city was large and great; but the people in it were few, and no houses were built.
- BLB
- And the city [was] was wide on two hands and great, and the people [were] few in its midst, and the houses had not been rebuilt.
- ÅB
- Byen var vid og stor, men folket i den var fåtallig, og ingen nye hus var bygget.
- OTB
- Byen var stor og romslig, men befolkningen var liten, og husene var ikke blitt gjenoppbygd.
- B1930
- Byen var vid og stor, men folket i den var fåtallig, og ingen nye hus var bygget.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Read in contextIsaiah 58:12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.
Read in contextHaggai 1:4–6
“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”
Read in context