Nehemiah 7:20

KJV

The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} of Adin {H5720}, six {H8337} hundred {H3967} fifty {H2572} and five {H2568}.

Complete Jewish Bible

descendants of 'Adin 655

Berean Standard Bible

the descendants of Adin, 655;

American Standard Version

The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 7:20 is a concise entry within a comprehensive census of the Jewish people who returned to Judah and Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Specifically, it records the presence of "The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five," highlighting the meticulous record-keeping undertaken by Nehemiah and the post-exilic community. This precise numerical detail underscores the importance of identity, lineage, and God's faithfulness in gathering and re-establishing His covenant people in their land, setting the stage for the spiritual and social restoration of Jerusalem.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 7 immediately follows the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership, a monumental physical restoration detailed in [Nehemiah 6](/nehemiah/6 "Nehemiah 6 - Completion of the Wall"). With the city's defenses secured, the narrative shifts to the crucial task of repopulating Jerusalem and organizing the returned exiles. This chapter presents a detailed census, which is remarkably similar to the list found in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The First List of Returnees from Exile"), serving as a foundational document for the re-establishment of civic and religious life. The inclusion of specific family names and their numbers, like the children of Adin in verse 20, emphasizes the meticulous effort to identify and integrate every individual into the restored community, ensuring proper tribal identities, land inheritances, and the purity of priestly and Levitical lines.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Nehemiah 7 are set in the mid-5th century BC, during the post-exilic period, approximately a century after the initial return from Babylonian captivity. This return, prophesied by [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of 70 Years Exile"), marked a pivotal moment in Israelite history. Genealogies and detailed census records were of paramount importance in ancient Israelite society, serving as legal documents for land ownership, tribal affiliation, and eligibility for religious service (especially for priests and Levites). For the returning exiles, these lists were crucial for re-establishing their identity as the covenant people of God, confirming their right to the land, and ensuring the continuity of their traditions. The meticulousness of this record reflects a deep cultural value placed on lineage and a desire to restore order and legitimacy after generations of displacement.

* **Key Themes:** Nehemiah 7, and verse 20 within it, contributes to several significant themes. Firstly, **Identity and Heritage** are central; the detailed genealogies underscore the profound importance of lineage and belonging within the covenant community. For the returning exiles, knowing their family and tribal connections was foundational to their sense of self and their place in the restored nation, as echoed in the meticulous genealogical records found throughout [1 Chronicles](/1_chronicles/1 "1 Chronicles 1 - Genealogies from Adam to Abraham"). Secondly, the very existence of these lists is a powerful testament to **God's Faithfulness** in fulfilling His promises to bring His people back to their land after the seventy-year captivity. This divine commitment to restoration is a recurring motif, seen in prophecies like [Isaiah 43:5-7](/isaiah/43-5-7 "Isaiah 43:5-7 - God Gathers His People"). Thirdly, the meticulous census reflects a divine and human commitment to **Order and Organization** within the community. Each family, no matter its size, was accounted for, demonstrating a structured approach to rebuilding both the city and the nation, reminiscent of the careful organization described in [Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - Census of Israel"). Finally, the entire chapter speaks to the theme of **Restoration and Rebuilding**, as these individuals were the living foundation of the renewed Judah, marking a significant step in the physical and spiritual re-establishment of Jerusalem and the temple.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Adin (Hebrew, _'Adin'_):** This is a personal or family name, derived from a root meaning "dainty," "delicate," or "effeminate." In the context of Nehemiah 7:20, it functions as an identifying marker for a specific clan or family unit among those who returned from Babylonian exile. The inclusion of "Adin" and its associated number highlights the meticulous detail with which the post-exilic community sought to record and preserve its tribal and family structures. Far from being a mere list, these names represented living people, each with a unique history and a vital role to play in the re-establishment of Israel. The preservation of such names underscores the importance of individual and familial identity within God's covenant people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children of Adin":** This phrase precisely identifies a specific family or clan, the descendants of an individual named Adin, who were part of the initial wave of returnees from Babylonian exile. It underscores the importance of family units and lineage in the social and religious fabric of ancient Israel, where identity, inheritance, and communal responsibilities were intricately tied to one's ancestral line. This designation signifies not just a biological connection but a communal identity within the broader covenant people.
* **"six hundred fifty and five":** This numerical entry specifies the exact count of individuals belonging to the family of Adin who returned to Judah. This precise figure, which is also corroborated in [Ezra 2:15](/ezra/2-15 "Ezra 2:15 - Children of Adin in Ezra's List"), emphasizes the meticulous record-keeping undertaken by the leaders of the post-exilic community. It serves as a historical demographic record, providing concrete data about the size and composition of the returned remnant. More profoundly, it underscores the value placed on each individual and family unit within God's restored people, demonstrating a divine and human commitment to order and accountability in the rebuilding process.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 7:20 is an integral part of an extensive **List** or **Genealogy**, a prominent literary device employed throughout biblical literature, especially in historical and prophetic books. This specific list functions as a **Census**, meticulously cataloging the individuals and families who returned from Babylonian exile. The inclusion of precise numbers for each family, such as "The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five," emphasizes the **Accuracy** and **Verifiability** of the record, reinforcing its historical reliability. Furthermore, the almost verbatim repetition of this list in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The First Returnees") employs the device of **Parallelism** or **Duplication**, which serves to confirm the validity of the data and underscore its immense importance to the post-exilic community. This meticulous record-keeping reflects a deep concern for identity, heritage, and the re-establishment of a divinely ordered society, ensuring that every member of the covenant community was accounted for.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 7:20, while seemingly a simple numerical entry, speaks volumes about God's meticulous care for His people and the profound importance of every individual within His grand redemptive plan. The emphasis on lineage and precise numbers highlights the divine commitment to order, identity, and the fulfillment of covenant promises. It reminds us that God sees and values each person, integrating them into His larger story of restoration. This detailed accounting for the returned remnant underscores the faithfulness of God to His promises to gather His scattered people, demonstrating His sovereignty over history and His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel.

* [Ezra 2:15](/ezra/2-15 "Ezra 2:15 - The Children of Adin in Ezra's Census")
* [1 Chronicles 9:1](/1_chronicles/9-1 "1 Chronicles 9:1 - Genealogies of Israel")
* [Isaiah 43:5-7](/isaiah/43-5-7 "Isaiah 43:5-7 - God Gathers His People from Exile")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world that often reduces individuals to statistics or overlooks the seemingly insignificant, Nehemiah 7:20 offers a profound counter-narrative. It reminds us that every person, every family, and every detail matters to God. Just as the returning exiles were meticulously counted and valued for their role in rebuilding, so too are believers today called to recognize their unique place and contribution within the body of Christ. This verse encourages us to embrace our spiritual heritage, understanding that we are part of a grand narrative of redemption, heirs to promises fulfilled in Christ. It challenges us to live with intentionality, participating actively in God's ongoing work of restoration in our communities and the world, knowing that our "number" is known and cherished by the divine Architect. Our identity is not lost in the crowd but is intricately woven into God's sovereign plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous record-keeping in Nehemiah 7, including verse 20, challenge our modern tendency to overlook or devalue individuals?**
* **In what ways can we better appreciate our spiritual heritage and lineage within the family of God today, recognizing our place in His ongoing story?**
* **What specific role or contribution do you believe God is calling you to make in His ongoing work of restoration, even if it seems small or numerical in the grand scheme?**

### FAQ
**Why are these detailed lists of names and numbers so important in biblical books like Nehemiah?**

Answer: These lists, like the one in Nehemiah 7, served several crucial purposes for the post-exilic community. Firstly, they affirmed **identity and heritage**, allowing families to trace their lineage back to the tribes of Israel, which was vital for land inheritance, social standing, and participation in religious life. Secondly, they ensured **legitimacy and purity**, especially for priestly and Levitical lines, confirming who was authorized to serve in the rebuilt temple (as seen in [Nehemiah 7:64-65](/nehemiah/7-64-65 "Nehemiah 7:64-65 - Exclusion from Priesthood")). Thirdly, they were essential for **organization and administration**, providing a basis for distributing resources, allocating housing, and establishing civic order in Jerusalem and Judah. Finally, they served as a historical record, testifying to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to bring His people back from exile, as prophesied in [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of 70 Years Exile").

**Is there a discrepancy between the numbers in Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2?**

Answer: While the overall structure and many individual family counts are remarkably similar between [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - Census of Returnees") and [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - List of Returnees"), there are minor numerical differences for some family groups. For example, Nehemiah 7:20 lists "The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five," which is identical to [Ezra 2:15](/ezra/2-15 "Ezra 2:15 - Children of Adin"). The slight discrepancies in other entries are generally attributed by scholars to various factors: different times of compilation, scribal variations, or perhaps different methods of counting (e.g., counting heads vs. counting households). Despite these minor variations, the overwhelming consistency confirms the historical reliability and importance of these records as a testament to the returned remnant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous counting of the "children of Adin" and other families in Nehemiah 7, representing the physical restoration of Israel, profoundly foreshadows a greater spiritual census—the gathering of God's people into the new covenant community through Christ. Just as physical lineage was vital for the old covenant Israel, so too is a spiritual lineage established through faith in Jesus. He is the true head of the new Israel, the church, where identity is no longer primarily defined by physical descent but by spiritual adoption into God's family (as articulated in [Galatians 3:28-29](/galatians/3-28-29 "Galatians 3:28-29 - Heirs According to the Promise") and [Romans 9:6-8](/romans/9-6-8 "Romans 9:6-8 - Not All Israel Is Israel")). Christ Himself, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), came to gather those who were scattered, establishing a new spiritual nation whose names are written in the [Book of Life](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Book of Life"). In Him, every believer, regardless of earthly origin, finds their true heritage and an eternal place within God's meticulously ordered and eternally restored kingdom, a kingdom where every "number" is known, valued, and eternally secure in the [heavenly Jerusalem](/hebrews/12-22-24 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.