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The Temple servants, however, whose leaders were Ziha and Gishpa, all lived on the hill of Ophel.
Nehemiah 11:21 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB But the temple servants lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
  • KJV But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
  • BSB The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.
  • NKJV But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.
  • NASB But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The temple servants lived in Ophel, overseen by Ziha and Gishpa. Even the lowest temple workers had a settled place and ordered leadership.

Overview

The Nethinim, or temple servants, performed the menial labor supporting worship and lived in Ophel near the temple. Their distinct mention, with named overseers, shows that every level of service had its honored place in God's house. No task done for God is too lowly to be recorded, for he values all who serve him faithfully.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 3

  • Neh 3:26(Now the temple servants lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
  • 2 Chr 27:3He built the upper gate of Yahweh’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.
  • Neh 3:31After him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths to the house of the temple servants, and of the merchants, made repairs opposite the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Nehemiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Nehemiah 11:21YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on NehemiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'

How Nehemiah 11:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.