TRV
Translation
King James Version
Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
Next to them 'Uzi'el the son of Harhayah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananyah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs; they renovated Yerushalayim as far as the Broad Wall.
Berean Standard Bible
Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs, and next to him, Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
American Standard Version
Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths. And next unto him repaired Hananiah one of the perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even unto the broad wall.
World English Bible Messianic
Next to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah one of the perfumers made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Next vnto him fortified Vzziel the sonne of Harhohiah of the golde smithes: next vnto him also fortified Hananiah, the sonne of Harakkahim, and they repayred Ierusalem vnto the broad wall.
Young's Literal Translation
By his hand hath Uzziel son of Harhaiah of the refiners strengthened; and by his hand hath Hananiah son of one of the compounders strengthened; and they leave Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
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In the KJVVerse 12,336 of 31,102
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Commentary on Nehemiah 3 verses 1–32
1 ¶ Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.
8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.
17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.
20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
The best way to know how to divide this chapter is to observe how the work was divided among the undertakers, that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it accordingly with a holy emulation, and desire to excel, yet without any contention, animosity, or separate interest. No strife appears among them but which should do most for the public good. Several things are observable in the account here given of the building of the wall about Jerusalem: -
I. That Eliashib the high priest, with his brethren the priests, led the van in this troop of builders, Neh 3:1. Ministers should be foremost in every good work; for their office obliges them to teach and quicken by their example, as well as by their doctrine. If there be labour in it, who so fit as they to work? if danger, who so fit as they to venture? The dignity of the high priest was very great, and obliged him to signalize himself in this service. The priests repaired the sheep-gate, so called because through it were brought the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the temple; and therefore the priests undertook the repair of it because the offerings of the Lord made by fire were their inheritance. And of this gate only it is said that they sanctified it with the word and prayer, and perhaps with sacrifices perhaps, 1. Because it led to the temple; or, 2. Because with this the building of the wall began, and it is probable (though they were at work in all parts of the wall at the same time) that this was first finished, and therefore at this gate they solemnly committed their city and the walls of it to the divine protection; or, 3. Because the priests were the builders of it; and it becomes ministers above others, being themselves in a peculiar manner sanctified to God, to sanctify to him all their performances, and to do even their common actions after a godly sort.
II. That the undertakers were very many, who each took his share, some more and some less, in this work, according as their ability was. Note, What is to be done for the public good every one should assist in, and further, to the utmost of his place and power. United force will conquer that which no individual dares venture on. Many hands will make light work.
III. That many were active in this work who were not themselves inhabitants of Jerusalem, and therefore consulted purely the public welfare and not any private interest or advantage of their own. Here are the men of Jericho with the first (Neh 3:2), the men of Gibeon and Mizpah (Neh 3:7), and Zanoah, Neh 3:13. Every Israelite should lend a hand towards the building up of Jerusalem.
IV. That several rulers, both of Jerusalem and of other cities, were active in this work, thinking themselves bound in honour to do the utmost that their wealth and power enabled them to do for the furtherance of this good work. But it is observable that they are called rulers of part, or the half part, of their respective cities. One was ruler of the half part of Jerusalem (Neh 3:12), another of part of Beth-haccerem (Neh 3:14), another of part of Mizpah (Neh 3:15), another of the half part of Beth-zur (Neh 3:16), one was ruler of one half part, and another of the other half part, of Keilah, Neh 3:17, Neh 3:18. Perhaps the Persian government would not entrust any one with a strong city, but appointed two to be a watch upon each other. Rome had two consuls.
V. Here is a just reproach fastened upon the nobles of Tekoa, that they put not their necks to the work of their Lord (Neh 3:5), that is, they would not come under the yoke of an obligation to this service; as if the dignity and liberty of their peerage were their discharge from serving God and doing good, which are indeed the highest honour and the truest freedom. Let not nobles think any thing below them by which they may advance the interests of their country; for what else is their nobility good for but that it puts them in a higher and larger sphere of usefulness than that in which inferior persons move?
VI. Two persons joined in repairing the old gate (Neh 3:6), and so were co-founders, and shared the honour of it between them. The good work which we cannot compass ourselves we must be thankful to those that will go partners with us in. Some think that this is called the old gate because it belonged to the ancient Salem, which was said to be first built by Melchizedek.
VII. Several good honest tradesmen, as well as priests and rulers, were active in this work - goldsmiths, apothecaries, merchants, Neh 3:8, Neh 3:32. They did not think their callings excused them, nor plead that they could not leave their shops to attend the public business, knowing that what they lost would certainly be made up to them by the blessing of God upon their callings.
VIII. Some ladies are spoken of as helping forward this work - Shallum and his daughters (Neh 3:12), who, though not capable of personal service, yet having their portions in their own hands, or being rich widows, contributed money for buying materials and paying workmen. St. Paul speaks of some good women that laboured with him in the gospel, Phi 4:3.
IX. Of some it is said that they repaired over against their houses (Neh 3:10, Neh 3:23, Neh 3:28, Neh 3:29), and of one (who, it is likely, was only a lodger) that he repaired over against his chamber, Neh 3:30. When a general good work is to be done each should apply himself to that part of it that falls nearest to him and is within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall be all mended. If he that has but a chamber will repair before that, he does his part.
X. Of one it is said that he earnestly repaired that which fell to his share (Neh 3:20) - he did it with an inflamed zeal; not that others were cold or indifferent, but he was the most vigorous of any of them and consequently made himself remarkable. It is good to be thus zealously affected in a good thin; and it is probable that this good man's zeal provoked very many to take the more pains and make the more haste.
XI. Of one of these builders it is observed that he was the sixth son of his father, Neh 3:30. His five elder brethren, it seems, laid not their hand to this work, but he did. In doing that which is good we need not stay to see our elders go before us; if they decline it, it does not therefore follow that we must. Thus the younger brother, if he be the better man, and does God and his generation better service, is indeed the better gentleman; those are most honourable that are most useful.
XII. Some of those that had first done helped their fellows, and undertook another share where they saw there was most need. Meremoth repaired, Neh 3:4. and again, Neh 3:21. And the Tekoites, besides the piece they repaired (Neh 3:5), undertook another piece (Neh 3:27), which is the more remarkable because their nobles set them a bad example by withdrawing from the service, which, instead of serving them for an excuse to sit still, perhaps made them the more forward to do double work, that by their zeal they might either shame or atone for the covetousness and carelessness of their nobles.
Lastly, Here is no mention of any particular share that Nehemiah himself had in this work. A name-sake of his is mentioned, Neh 3:16. But did he do nothing? Yes, though he undertook not any particular piece of the wall, yet he did more than any of them, for he had the oversight of them all; half of his servants worked where there was most need, and the other half stood sentinel, as we find afterwards (Neh 4:16), while he himself in his own person walked the rounds, directed and encouraged the builders, set his hand to the work where he saw occasion, and kept a watchful eye upon the motions of the enemy, as we shall find in the next chapter. The pilot needs not haul at a rope: it is enough for him to steer.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–32. Public domain.
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BedeAD 735
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And they left Jerusalem, etc. The wall of the broad street in Jerusalem is the firmness and fortification of perfect love in the hearts of the elect, to which its teachers reach by building, when progressing in works of charity, they can say to their Creator and Helper: We have run the way of your commandments, when you enlarged our heart (Psalm 119). Indeed, that enlargement of an enlightened mind, which can love both a friend in God and an enemy for the sake of God.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Nehemiah 3:8 meticulously records the contributions of Uzziel the goldsmith and Hananiah the apothecary to the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls, specifically their work on the section leading up to the significant "broad wall." This verse powerfully illustrates the inclusive nature of the post-exilic rebuilding effort, demonstrating that individuals from diverse and highly specialized trades, not typically associated with manual labor, united their unique skills and resources to fortify a crucial segment of the city's defenses, underscoring a profound communal dedication to the restoration of Jerusalem.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Nehemiah 3:8, situated within the broader context of Nehemiah 3, primarily employs a Catalogue or List as its dominant literary device. The entire chapter is a meticulous enumeration of individuals and groups, their specific sections of the wall, and often their family or professional affiliations. This detailed listing emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the effort, ensuring that every participant, no matter how seemingly minor, is acknowledged and their contribution recorded. The repetition of "next unto him" creates a powerful sense of continuous, collaborative progression, like a relay race where each team takes up the baton from the previous one. Furthermore, the mention of specific trades like Goldsmiths and Apothecaries can be seen as a form of Synecdoche or Metonymy, where these specialized professions stand in for the broader community's diverse skill sets and the holistic nature of their participation. The physical act of rebuilding the wall itself functions as powerful Symbolism, representing not only the restoration of Jerusalem's physical defenses but also the spiritual, social, and national re-establishment of the Jewish people after exile, signifying a return to order, security, and divine favor.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 3:8 beautifully illustrates the profound theological principle that God uses all of His people, with all their diverse gifts and skills, to accomplish His purposes. The inclusion of a goldsmith and an apothecary in the physical labor of rebuilding the wall demonstrates that no skill set is too specialized or seemingly unrelated to be consecrated for divine service. This highlights a profound truth: God's work is not limited to those with overtly "spiritual" or "manual" gifts but encompasses the full spectrum of human talent and profession. The unity in diversity, where individuals from different backgrounds and with varied expertise work side-by-side on a common project, serves as a powerful metaphor for the body of Christ. Each member, though distinct, contributes indispensably to the health and growth of the whole, reflecting God's design for His people to collaborate for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nehemiah 3:8 offers profound and practical lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to consider how we are utilizing our unique talents, professions, and resources for the advancement of God's kingdom and the flourishing of His church. Just as goldsmiths and apothecaries, with their precision and specialized knowledge, contributed to the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem, so too can every believer consecrate their work, whether in business, education, arts, technology, homemaking, or any other legitimate endeavor, as an act of worship and service. This verse reminds us that there is no sacred-secular divide in God's economy; all honorable work, when done unto the Lord with excellence and integrity, can be part of His grand design. It fosters a spirit of unity, urging us to work collaboratively with fellow believers, recognizing and valuing the diverse gifts within the body of Christ. No contribution is too small, too specialized, or too insignificant when offered with a heart dedicated to the Lord and a focus on the common good of the community and the church, contributing to the spiritual and physical "walls" that need rebuilding in our world today.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were goldsmiths and apothecaries, seemingly specialized in delicate crafts, involved in building a wall, a task typically requiring heavy labor?
Answer: The involvement of goldsmiths and apothecaries in the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls highlights several key aspects of the post-exilic community's dedication and the nature of the project. Firstly, it underscores the all-encompassing nature of the effort; the task of rebuilding the city's defenses was so vital that it required the participation of every segment of society, transcending typical professional boundaries. It was a communal undertaking where all hands were needed. Secondly, it suggests that their specialized skills, though not directly related to masonry or heavy lifting, were still highly valuable. A goldsmith's precision and attention to detail might have been crucial for quality control, overseeing specific delicate aspects of the construction, or even contributing financially to the project. An apothecary's expertise in mixing substances could have been applied to preparing specialized mortars, sealants, or even medicinal salves for the laborers. More broadly, their participation signifies that all professions and talents can be consecrated to God's service. It demonstrates that when God's people unite for a common, divinely appointed goal, every unique gift is valuable and can be leveraged for the greater good, echoing the New Testament's emphasis on the diverse yet complementary gifts within the body of Christ (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous account of diverse individuals like Uzziel the goldsmith and Hananiah the apothecary contributing their unique skills to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ and the spiritual edifice He builds—the Church. While Nehemiah's work was the restoration of a physical city, Christ's mission was the spiritual restoration of humanity and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Jesus is the ultimate cornerstone upon which God's spiritual house is built, a living temple composed of believers (1 Peter 2:5). Just as every citizen contributed their unique skills to the physical wall, so too does Christ, through His Holy Spirit, empower every believer with diverse gifts (Romans 12:6-8) to build up the body of Christ and advance His kingdom. The unity and collective effort seen in Nehemiah 3 foreshadow the unified purpose of the Church, where all members, regardless of their background or specific calling, work together under Christ's headship to fulfill His redemptive plan. The "fortified Jerusalem" points to the ultimate security and eternal dwelling found in Christ, who provides an anchor for the soul, firm and secure, and ultimately leads His people to the New Jerusalem, a city that needs no physical walls for defense, for God Himself is its light and salvation.