And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
Parallel translations
- WEB The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.
- KJV And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
- NKJV And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
- NASB And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
- NLT And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.
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 people blessed those who freely volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Willing sacrifice for the good of God's city was honored by the whole community.
Overview
Beyond those chosen by lot, some offered themselves freely to settle in the capital, and the people praised them for it. Such willingness to bear hardship for the welfare of God's city reflects a generous, self-giving spirit. The community's blessing shows that costly service for God's people deserves grateful recognition, not to be taken for granted.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Judg 5:9My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!
- 2 Cor 8:16–17But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.
- Job 31:20if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
- Deut 24:13be sure to return it to him by sunset, so that he may sleep in his own cloak and bless you, and this will be credited to you as righteousness before the LORD your God.
- Job 29:13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
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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 11:2 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
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