Nehemiah 7:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Now the city [was] large and great: but the people [were] few therein, and the houses [were] not builded.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not been rebuilt.

Berean Standard Bible:

Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

American Standard Version:

Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now the city^{H5892} was large^{{H7342}{H3027}} and great^{H1419}: but the people^{H5971} were few^{H4592} therein^{H8432}, and the houses^{H1004} were not builded^{H1129}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Nehemiah 7:4

Nehemiah 7:4 is a verse that captures a snapshot of the state of Jerusalem after the city's walls had been rebuilt under the leadership of Nehemiah. The historical context is the mid-5th century BCE, during the Persian period, when some of the Jewish exiles had returned to their homeland from Babylon. The verse reflects a moment of transition and rebuilding for the Jerusalem community.

The themes present in this verse include the contrast between the potential of the city and its current reality. "The city was large and great," speaks to the historical and religious significance of Jerusalem, as well as its physical size and capacity to house a large population. However, "the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded," indicates that the city was underpopulated and its infrastructure was not fully restored. This highlights the challenges faced by the returning exiles: they had to contend with the daunting task of repopulating and redeveloping their ancestral city, which was still reeling from the effects of destruction and exile.

The verse also touches on the themes of restoration and hope. Despite the current state of the city, the fact that the walls had been rebuilt (as described in the preceding chapters) was a significant achievement and a step towards the city's revitalization. It was a tangible symbol of the community's resilience and their commitment to reestablishing their religious and cultural center. Nehemiah 7:4 thus encapsulates both the progress made and the work that remained for the people of Jerusalem as they sought to reclaim their city and their way of life after a period of exile and desolation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5892
   There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עִיר
   Transliteration: ʻîyr
   Pronunciation: eer
   Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7342
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָחָב
   Transliteration: râchâb
   Pronunciation: raw-khawb'
   Description: from רָחַב; roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or figuratively; broad, large, at liberty, proud, wide.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1419
   There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּדוֹל
   Transliteration: gâdôwl
   Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
   Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4592
   There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְעַט
   Transliteration: mᵉʻaṭ
   Pronunciation: meh-at'
   Description: or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8432
   There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
   Transliteration: tâvek
   Pronunciation: taw'-vek
   Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
   
8. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
9. Strong's Number: H1129
   There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּנָה
   Transliteration: bânâh
   Pronunciation: baw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely.