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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 8:1All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.
- Neh 11:21But the temple servants lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
- Neh 8:3He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
- Neh 12:37By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of David’s city, at the ascent of the wall, above David’s house, even to the water gate eastward.
- 2 Chr 33:14Now after this, he built an outer wall to David’s city, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate. He encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height; and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
- Neh 3:27After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.
- Neh 7:46–56The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
- Neh 8:16So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of God’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate.
- 1 Chr 9:2Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
- 2 Chr 27:3He built the upper gate of Yahweh’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.
- Neh 10:28The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge, and understanding —
- Ezra 2:43–58The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children 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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