### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Nᵉqôwdâʼ**, represented by `{{H5353}}`, is a proper name meaning **distinction**. It specifically identifies **Nekoda**, a Temple-servant mentioned in post-exilic records. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible, exclusively within genealogical lists.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5353}}` is used to identify a specific family line returning to Judah after the Babylonian exile. The name appears in parallel accounts in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. It is mentioned in the list of the Nethinim, or Temple servants, identifying "the children of **Nekoda**" as part of this group ([[Ezra 2:48]], [[Nehemiah 7:50]]). It appears again in a separate list of people whose lineage could not be verified, with the "children of **Nekoda**" being counted among them ([[Ezra 2:60]], [[Nehemiah 7:62]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary word associated with **Nekoda** establishes the context of lineage and ancestry:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên**: This word is defined as a **son**, used in the widest sense to denote a descendant or a member of a family line. Each appearance of `{{H5353}}` is found in the construction "the children{H1121} of **Nekoda**," signifying that **Nekoda** is the patriarch of the family group being identified in the census ([[Ezra 2:48]], [[Ezra 2:60]], [[Nehemiah 7:50]], [[Nehemiah 7:62]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5353}}` is found entirely within its context in the restoration of Israel.
* **Genealogical Identity:** The name **Nekoda** functions as a vital marker in the census lists that were crucial for re-establishing the community in Jerusalem. These records affirmed family heritage and connection to the Israelite nation.
* **Temple Service:** As the name of a "Temple-servant," `{{H5353}}` highlights the importance of restoring the personnel required for worship and the proper functioning of the Temple after the exile [[Ezra 2:48]].
* **Community Restoration:** The inclusion of the "children of **Nekoda**" in these foundational texts underscores the comprehensive effort to account for all the families returning to rebuild their society, even those whose records were incomplete.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5353}}` is a proper name, **Nekoda**, rather than a common word. Its importance is historical and genealogical, confined to the pivotal records in Ezra and Nehemiah. The name serves as an identifier for a family of Temple-servants, playing a small but specific role in the biblical account of Israel's return from exile and the restoration of its community and religious life.
TRV