Nehemiah 7:51

KJV

The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} of Gazzam {H1502}, the children {H1121} of Uzza {H5798}, the children {H1121} of Phaseah {H6454},

Complete Jewish Bible

descendants of Gazam, descendants of 'Uza, descendants of Paseach,

Berean Standard Bible

the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah,

American Standard Version

the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 7:51 is a concise yet significant verse, listing three family groups—the children of Gazzam, Uzza, and Phaseah—among those who returned from the Babylonian exile to Judah. This verse is part of a comprehensive census recorded in Nehemiah chapter 7, which meticulously documents the individuals and families who formed the foundational community for the spiritual and physical restoration of Jerusalem and the land of Judah. It underscores the importance of identity, lineage, and God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 7:51 is embedded within a detailed register of returnees from the Babylonian captivity, spanning from [Nehemiah 7:6](/nehemiah/7-6 "Nehemiah 7:6 - Beginning of the Census") to [Nehemiah 7:73](/nehemiah/7-73 "Nehemiah 7:73 - End of the Census"). This census immediately follows the completion of the wall of Jerusalem, a monumental physical achievement detailed in [Nehemiah 6](/nehemiah/6 "Nehemiah 6 - Completion of the Wall"). The listing of families serves as a crucial administrative step in Nehemiah's broader program of national restoration, moving from physical rebuilding to the re-establishment of community, identity, and proper worship. The meticulous nature of this list, which parallels the one found in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - List of Returnees"), highlights its authoritative and foundational role in defining the restored Israelite community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period following the Babylonian exile (538 BCE onwards) was a time of immense challenge and redefinition for the Jewish people. Having lost their temple, land, and monarchy, their identity as God's chosen people was largely preserved through their lineage and adherence to the Law. The return from exile, facilitated by Persian decrees, was a fulfillment of prophetic promises (e.g., [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Promise of Return")). In this post-exilic era, accurate genealogical records were vital for several reasons: establishing claims to ancestral land, ensuring purity of priestly and Levitical lines, and confirming membership within the covenant community. The list in Nehemiah 7, therefore, is not merely a dry enumeration but a living testament to the re-gathering of a scattered people, each family representing a thread in the tapestry of Israel's continuity.
* **Key Themes:** The census in [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Census of Returnees") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Nehemiah. Firstly, it emphasizes **Identity and Belonging**, meticulously defining who constitutes the "remnant" of Israel that returned and thus has a legitimate claim to the land and its heritage. Secondly, it highlights **Restoration and Rebuilding**, not just of physical structures like the wall, but of the social, religious, and political fabric of the nation. The families listed are the "living stones" of this renewed community, essential for repopulating Jerusalem and re-establishing communal life, as later seen in [Nehemiah 11:1-2](/nehemiah/11-1 "Nehemiah 11:1-2 - Resettlement of Jerusalem"). Lastly, the very existence of this detailed record testifies to **God's Faithfulness** in preserving His people and fulfilling His covenant promises, even through generations of exile and dispersion. It demonstrates His sovereign hand guiding the return and reconstitution of His chosen nation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Children of (Hebrew, _b'nei_):** This common Hebrew phrase literally means "sons of" but functions broadly to denote descendants, members of a clan, or those belonging to a particular family group. In the context of ancient Israelite society, one's identity was intrinsically linked to their family and ancestral lineage. The repeated use of "the children of" before each family name emphasizes the collective identity and the importance of familial units in the re-establishment of the community. It signifies not just biological offspring but the entire household or clan associated with the patriarch.
* **Gazzam (Hebrew, _Gazzam'_):** The name "Gazzam" means "devouring" or "cutting off." While the etymology of individual names in these lists is often secondary to their function as identifiers, it's worth noting that even seemingly obscure names are preserved, affirming the meticulous nature of the record and God's attention to every detail of His people's return.
* **Uzza (Hebrew, _Uzza'_):** The name "Uzza" means "strength" or "might." Like Gazzam, its primary significance here is as a proper noun identifying a family unit. The inclusion of such families, regardless of their specific name's meaning, speaks to the comprehensive nature of the census, ensuring that all who rightfully belonged to the returning remnant were accounted for.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children of Gazzam,"**: This phrase introduces the first of three family groups mentioned in this specific verse. It signifies that the descendants or members of the clan associated with the patriarch Gazzam were among those who returned from exile and were counted in the census. Their inclusion underscores the comprehensive nature of the record, encompassing various families, both prominent and less so, who contributed to the repopulation and rebuilding efforts.
* **"the children of Uzza,"**: Similar to the preceding phrase, this identifies another distinct family unit, the descendants of Uzza, as part of the returning community. The repetition of "the children of" emphasizes the familial basis of Israelite society and the importance of lineage in establishing identity and rights within the restored nation.
* **"the children of Phaseah,"**: This final clause in the verse names the third family group. The enumeration of these specific families, alongside many others in the broader chapter, reinforces the meticulous record-keeping that was crucial for the post-exilic community. It served to validate their claim to the land, their participation in the covenant, and their role in the ongoing work of restoration.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 7:51, within the broader census of [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Census"), primarily employs **Enumeration** and **Listing**, which are fundamental to the genre of a census or genealogy. The meticulous recording of names serves to establish legitimacy, identity, and the fulfillment of God's promise to regather His people. The **Repetition** of the phrase "the children of" (Hebrew: `בְּנֵי`) before each family name creates a rhythmic pattern that emphasizes the familial structure of the returning community and reinforces the idea of lineage as a primary marker of identity. Furthermore, the use of family names to represent entire groups can be seen as a form of **Metonymy**, where the name of the patriarch stands in for the entire clan or household. This device efficiently conveys the inclusion of numerous distinct family units without needing to list every individual.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 7:51, as part of the broader census, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous care for His people and His commitment to His covenant promises. The preservation of such detailed records, even for seemingly obscure families, reveals that every individual and family unit is known and valued by God in His grand plan of redemption and restoration. It speaks to the divine precision in fulfilling prophecy, bringing a remnant back to the land to rebuild not just walls, but a covenant community. This attention to detail in the Old Testament foreshadows God's intimate knowledge of each believer in the New Covenant, where our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The inclusion of these families underscores the importance of belonging to God's people, a theme echoed throughout Scripture.

* [Ezra 2:1-70](/ezra/2-1 "Ezra 2:1-70 - Parallel List of Returnees")
* [Psalm 139:16](/psalm/139-16 "Psalm 139:16 - God's Knowledge of Us")
* [Revelation 20:12](/revelation/20-12 "Revelation 20:12 - The Book of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While a list of names might seem dry to the modern reader, Nehemiah 7:51 offers profound insights into God's character and our own spiritual journey. It reminds us that God is a God of order and detail, who cares not just for the grand narrative but for every individual within it. Just as these families were meticulously counted and given a place in the restored community, so too are we, as believers, known intimately by God and given a place within His spiritual family. Our spiritual heritage, rooted in Christ, is far more significant than any earthly lineage, yet it calls us to the same commitment to community, perseverance, and participation in God's ongoing work of restoration in the world. This verse encourages us to value our place in the body of Christ, to contribute to its health and growth, and to trust that God's faithful hand guides every detail of our lives and the life of His church.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous record-keeping in Nehemiah 7:51 challenge our perception of what God considers important?**
* **In what ways does belonging to a spiritual family (the Church) provide identity and purpose, similar to how physical lineage functioned for the returning exiles?**
* **What "restoration" or "rebuilding" work is God calling you to participate in, and how does the perseverance of these returning families inspire you?**

### FAQ

**Why are these seemingly obscure family names important enough to be listed in the Bible?**

Answer: These names, including Gazzam, Uzza, and Phaseah, are important because they represent the individual families and clans that collectively formed the returning remnant of Israel after the Babylonian exile. Their inclusion in the census of [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Census of Returnees") serves several crucial purposes. First, it underscores the historical accuracy and meticulous record-keeping of the biblical narrative, affirming the legitimacy of those who returned to rebuild Jerusalem. Second, it highlights the importance of lineage and identity in ancient Israelite society, where one's family determined land rights, social standing, and eligibility for priestly service. Finally, and most significantly from a theological perspective, it demonstrates God's faithfulness in preserving His people and fulfilling His promises to bring them back to their land, even down to the level of individual families, no matter how "obscure" they may seem to us today. Every name represents a thread in the tapestry of God's redemptive plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Nehemiah 7:51 focuses on the physical lineage and return of specific families to the land of Israel, it ultimately points to a greater, spiritual restoration found in Christ. The meticulous accounting of those who belonged to the Old Covenant community foreshadows the divine record-keeping of those who belong to the New Covenant family. Through faith in Jesus, we are grafted into the true vine, becoming "children of God" not by physical descent but by spiritual adoption ([John 1:12-13](/john/1-12 "John 1:12-13 - Children of God by Faith")). The ultimate census is found in the Lamb's Book of Life, where the names of all who are redeemed by the blood of Christ are eternally recorded ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Names in the Book of Life")). Just as the families in Nehemiah 7 were essential for the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem, so too are believers, as living stones, built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, through Christ Jesus ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones")). The meticulous care God showed in preserving and re-gathering His Old Testament people finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in His work through Christ to gather a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into His eternal kingdom ([Revelation 7:9-10](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9-10 - Multitude from Every Nation")).

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.

Cross-References

Ezra 2:49

The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,