and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.
Parallel translations
- WEB (Now the temple servants lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
- KJV Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
- NKJV Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the place in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower.
- NASB Now the temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.
- NLT with the Temple servants living on the hill of Ophel, who repaired the wall as far as a point across from the Water Gate to the east and the projecting tower.
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
A parenthetical note records that the temple servants lived in Ophel near the water gate and made repairs there. The Nethinim, lowly temple helpers, also share in the work.
Overview
The temple servants (Nethinim), who performed menial duties at the temple, dwelt in the Ophel district and built near the water gate. Their inclusion shows that even those of humblest standing contributed to the holy task. The verse affirms that God's work embraces servants of every rank, each valued in His sight.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Neh 8:1At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
- Neh 11:21The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.
- Neh 8:3So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
- Neh 12:37At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.
- 2 Chr 33:14After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the hill of Ophel and heightened it considerably. He also stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.
- Neh 3:27And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.
- Neh 7:46–56The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,
- Neh 8:16And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.
- 1 Chr 9:2Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
- 2 Chr 27:3Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
- Neh 10:28“The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand,
- Ezra 2:43–58The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,
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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 3:26 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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