New International VersionThe following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:
New Living TranslationAnother group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.
English Standard VersionThe following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:
Berean Standard BibleThe following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:
King James BibleAnd these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
New King James VersionAnd these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not identify their father’s house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel:
New American Standard BibleThese were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not provide evidence for their fathers’ households or their descendants, whether they were of Israel:
NASB 1995These were they who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses or their descendants, whether they were of Israel:
NASB 1977And these were they who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses or their descendants, whether they were of Israel:
Legacy Standard BibleNow these were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they were not able to declare their fathers’ houses or their fathers’ seed, whether they were of Israel:
Amplified BibleAnd these were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer; but they [had no birth records and] could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they were of Israel:
Christian Standard BibleThe following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their ancestral families and their lineage were Israelite:
Holman Christian Standard BibleThe following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their families and ancestors were Israelite:
American Standard VersionAnd these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:
English Revised VersionAnd these were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe following people came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn't prove they were Israelites on the basis of their father's family or their genealogy:
International Standard VersionHere is a list of returnees from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, who could not prove their ancestry and lineage from Israel:
NET BibleThese are the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify their family connection or their ancestry, as to whether they were really from Israel):
New Heart English BibleThese were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not prove their ancestral houses, nor their descent, whether they were of Israel:
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd these were they who went up also from Tel-mela, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their fathers house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:
World English BibleThese were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring, whether they were of Israel: Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd these [are] those coming up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer—and they have not been able to declare the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they [are] of Israel—
Young's Literal Translation And these are those coming up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer -- and they have not been able to declare the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they are of Israel --
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd these going up from Tel-Mela, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: and they could not announce their father's house, and their seed, if they were from Israel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd these are they that came up from Telmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Emmer: and could not shew the house of their fathers, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
Catholic Public Domain VersionNow these are the ones who ascended from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; and they were not able to indicate the house of their fathers and their offspring, whether they were of Israel:
New American BibleThe following who returned from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer were unable to prove that their ancestral houses and their descent were Israelite:
New Revised Standard VersionThe following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their ancestral houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThese were those who came up from Tel-milkha to Tel-ava and Kerob, and they spoke, but they could not show their father's genealogy nor their descent, whether they were of Israel.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedThese who came up from Telmalkha to Telabah and to Kurab, these spoke and they could not show the generations of their fathers and their seed, except that they were from Israel. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not tell their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd these went up from Thelmeleth, Thelaresa, Charub, Eron, Jemer: but they could not declare the houses of their families, or their seed, whether they were of Israel.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The List of Returning Exiles… 60The temple servants and descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all. 61The followingcame upfrom Tel-melah,Tel-harsha,Cherub,Addon,and Immer,but could notprovethat their familieswere descendedfrom Israel:62the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642 in all.…
Cross References Ezra 2:59-63The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel: / the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 652 in all. / And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). ...
Nehemiah 11:4-6while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; / and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. / The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor.
Nehemiah 11:25-36As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages; / in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet; / in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages; ...
1 Chronicles 9:2-3Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants. / Some of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:
Ezra 8:1-20These are the family heads and genealogical records of those who returned with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes: / from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel; from the descendants of David, Hattush / of the descendants of Shecaniah; from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men; ...
Nehemiah 12:1-26Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, / Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, / Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, ...
Nehemiah 13:3As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.
Matthew 1:1-17This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: / Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. / Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. ...
Luke 3:23-38Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, / the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, / the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ...
John 7:42Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
Romans 11:1I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Philippians 3:5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
1 Peter 2:9-10But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Revelation 7:4-8And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel: / From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, / from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, ...
2 Kings 17:24-41Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. / Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” ...
Treasury of Scripture And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. Ezra 2:59 And thesewere they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan,and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether theywere of Israel: Tel-harsa, Addan. Jump to Previous AbleAddonBelongedCherubDescendedDescentFamiliesFathersFather'sHarshaHouseHousesImmerIsraelIsraelitesKerubMelahOffspringProveSeedShewShowTelTel-HarshaTel-Har'shaTelmelahTel-MelahTel-Me'lahTownsWhetherJump to Next AbleAddonBelongedCherubDescendedDescentFamiliesFathersFather'sHarshaHouseHousesImmerIsraelIsraelitesKerubMelahOffspringProveSeedShewShowTelTel-HarshaTel-Har'shaTelmelahTel-MelahTel-Me'lahTownsWhetherNehemiah 7 1.Nehemiah commits the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah5.A register of the genealogy of them which came at the first out of Babylon9.of the people39.of the priests43.of the Levites46.of the Nethinims57.of Solomon's servants63.and of the priests which could not find their pedigree66.The whole number of them, with their substance70.Their offeringsThe following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and ImmerThis phrase lists locations and groups of people returning from the Babylonian exile. Tel-melah and Tel-harsha are likely regions or settlements in Babylon, though their exact locations remain uncertain. The names suggest mounds or ruins, common in Mesopotamian geography. Cherub, Addon, and Immer may refer to family or clan names, with Immer being a known priestly family ( 1 Chronicles 24:14). This return is part of the larger restoration effort led by Nehemiah, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promise to bring His people back to their land ( Jeremiah 29:10-14). but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel
This highlights the importance of genealogical records in post-exilic Israel. Being able to prove one's lineage was crucial for participating in the religious and social life of the community, especially for those claiming priestly or Levitical status (Ezra 2:62). The inability to verify descent from Israel could result in exclusion from certain roles or privileges, reflecting the emphasis on purity and continuity of the covenant community. This situation underscores the challenges faced by the returning exiles in re-establishing their identity and heritage after years in a foreign land. Persons / Places / Events 1. Tel-melahA location from which some of the exiles returned. The name means "hill of salt," indicating a possible geographical feature or characteristic of the area. 2. Tel-harshaAnother location associated with the returning exiles. The name means "hill of the forest," suggesting a wooded area. 3. CherubLikely a family or clan name, possibly connected to a place or a notable ancestor. 4. AddonAnother family or clan name, possibly indicating a group of people who returned from exile. 5. ImmerA priestly family mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, indicating a lineage that had roles in temple service. Teaching Points The Importance of IdentityUnderstanding one's spiritual heritage is crucial. Just as the Israelites needed to prove their lineage, Christians are called to know their identity in Christ and live accordingly. Faithfulness in UncertaintyThose who could not prove their lineage still returned to Jerusalem, demonstrating faithfulness despite uncertainty. Believers today are encouraged to trust God even when their path is unclear. Community and BelongingThe passage highlights the importance of community and belonging. In the church, every believer is part of the body of Christ, regardless of their background or past. God's Sovereignty in RestorationThe return from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem illustrate God's sovereign plan to restore His people. This serves as a reminder of God's power to restore and redeem our lives. The Role of Records and RemembranceKeeping records was vital for the Israelites to maintain their identity. Similarly, Christians are encouraged to remember God's faithfulness and document His work in their lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Nehemiah 7:61?
2.How does Nehemiah 7:61 emphasize the importance of genealogical records for identity?
3.What lessons can we learn about belonging from Nehemiah 7:61?
4.How does Nehemiah 7:61 connect to God's covenant with Israel?
5.How can we ensure our spiritual lineage aligns with biblical teachings today?
6.What role does community play in maintaining faith, as seen in Nehemiah 7:61?
7.Why were certain Israelites unable to prove their ancestry in Nehemiah 7:61?
8.How does Nehemiah 7:61 challenge the importance of genealogical records in faith?
9.What does Nehemiah 7:61 reveal about the identity and belonging of God's people?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 7?
11.Why does Nehemiah 7:61–65 reference priests unable to prove their lineage, and does this contradict earlier genealogical records found in Ezra?
12.Could the strict inheritance stipulations in Numbers 36 have led to conflicting genealogical records, and is there any textual or historical proof of such inconsistencies?
13.Does the detailed list of families and possessions in Nehemiah 7:6-73 have any archaeological corroboration, or could it be exaggerated?
14.How many singers accompanied the assembly? Two hundred (Ezra 2:65) Two hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:67)What Does Nehemiah 7:61 Mean The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer• These five names match the list inEzra 2:59. Both books record the same group within the second wave of returnees under Zerubbabel. • Tel-melah and Tel-harsha were probably settlements in Babylon, while Cherub, Addon, and Immer appear to be family or clan names. The point is that people from scattered places rallied to join the restoration promised inJeremiah 29:10 and fulfilled inEzra 1:1–3. • Their willingness to leave comfortable lives in exile reflects the heart of the remnant described inIsaiah 11:11 andNehemiah 7:5—people stirred by God to rebuild Jerusalem.
but they could not prove• Genealogical proof mattered. According toNumbers 1:18, “They registered themselves by their clans and families, with the names of every male recorded.” Documentation safeguarded the purity of Israel’s covenant community. •Ezra 2:62 notes that these same people “searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not find them.” Without paperwork, participation in certain ministries—especially priestly service—was off-limits (Nehemiah 7:63–65). • God honors sincerity but also upholds order (1 Corinthians 14:40). Wanting to serve was commendable; demonstrating lineage was required.
that their families were descended from Israel• Family ties determined inheritance (Joshua 13–21) and temple roles (1 Chronicles 24). Lacking proof placed these returnees in a gray area, so they were listed separately until clarity came. • The episode highlights God’s protective care over the lineage leading to Christ (Matthew 1:1–16). Preserving accurate records ensured messianic prophecies likeGenesis 49:10 would remain traceable. • Yet inclusion was still possible. Later generations could intermarry within Israel once evidence emerged or the priesthood received divine guidance (Nehemiah 7:65). Grace and truth walked together.
summaryNehemiah 7:61 records eager returnees whose paperwork had been lost across decades in exile. Their example teaches: • Zeal for God’s house is noble, yet obedience to His established order is essential. • Genealogies matter because God’s promises trace through real families, culminating in Jesus. • Even when records fail, God’s faithfulness remains, and His people may still find a place among the covenant community in His timing.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew The followingוְאֵ֗לֶּה(wə·’êl·leh)Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428:These, thosecame upהָֽעוֹלִים֙(hā·‘ō·w·lîm)Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5927:To ascend, in, activelyfrom Tel-melah,מֶ֙לַח֙(me·laḥ)Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8528:Tel-melah -- 'mound of salt', a place in BabylonTel-harsha,חַרְשָׁ֔א(ḥar·šā)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8521:Tel-harsha -- 'mound of a craftsman', a city in BabylonCherub,כְּר֥וּב(kə·rūḇ)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3743:Cherub -- a place in BabylonAddon,אַדּ֖וֹן(’ad·dō·wn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 114:Addon -- 'powerful', apparantly a place in Babylonand Immer,וְאִמֵּ֑ר(wə·’im·mêr)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 564:Immer -- the name of several Israelites, perhaps also a place in Babylonbut could notוְלֹ֣א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noproveלְהַגִּ֤יד(lə·hag·gîḏ)Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5046:To be conspicuousthat their familiesבֵּית־(bêṯ-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A housewere descendedוְזַרְעָ֔ם(wə·zar·‘ām)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2233:Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterityfrom Israel:מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל(mî·yiś·rā·’êl)Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc
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OT History: Nehemiah 7:61 These were those who went up (Neh Ne) |
