And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at 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.
- BSB And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in 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 toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Yahweh!
- 2 Cor 8:16–17But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
- Job 31:20if his heart hasn’t blessed me, if he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece;
- Deut 24:13You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Yahweh your God.
- Job 29:13the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to 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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