Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.
- KJV Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
- NKJV Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt.
- NASB Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built.
- NLT At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt.
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 city is large but sparsely populated, with many houses still unbuilt. Jerusalem needs people, not just walls.
Overview
A walled city with few inhabitants remained vulnerable and incomplete, prompting the genealogical effort that follows. The observation sets up the concern to repopulate Jerusalem with God's covenant people. It reminds us that the true strength of God's city lies in its people, a theme fulfilled in the church as God's living temple built of redeemed persons (1 Peter 2:5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Isa 58:12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.
- Matt 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Hag 1:4–6“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 7:4 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.