Nehemiah 7:6 - These are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city;

Generated Verse: Nehemiah 7:6

What does "Nehemiah 7:6" mean?


This verse from Nehemiah 7:6 is the introductory verse to a long list of names and family groups that returned to Jerusalem and Judah after being exiled in Babylon. Let's break down what it means:

"These are the children of the province...": This identifies the people listed as being from the province of Judah (and likely surrounding areas). "Children" in this context refers to descendants or people who belong to the specified area.
"...who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away...": This means these people are returning from exile. Their ancestors (and perhaps themselves) had been taken captive by the Babylonians. "Went up" is a common expression for travelling to Jerusalem, which was situated on higher ground.
"...whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away...": This specifies that the exile was caused by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king who conquered Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE.
"...and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city;": This states that these people are returning to their ancestral homes in Jerusalem and the cities of Judah after their exile. "Everyone to his city" emphasizes the intention to re-establish their families and communities in their original locations.

In essence, this verse provides the historical context for the list that follows. It tells us that the people listed are the descendants of those exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, and they are now returning to rebuild their lives and communities in their homeland. It represents the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Jewish people, marking the end of their exile and the restoration of their homeland. The list itself would have been important for establishing land rights, lineage, and roles within the restored community.