Bible Strands
Nehemiah 7:57
The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah records a census of the returned exiles and temple personnel as they organize the repopulation of Jerusalem and restore worship. The passage functions as an administrative register rather than a narrative or theological discourse.
The words — עַבְדֵי שְׁלֹמֹה ('av.dei she.lo.moh) translates literally to “servants of Solomon,” identifying a designated class of temple personnel. The repeated term בְּנֵי (be.nei) simply denotes “descendants” for each named family line.
The thread — This exact phrasing runs through Ezra 2:55, which records the parallel census list from the earlier return. Nehemiah 11:3 references the broader group of Solomon’s servants settling in Judah’s villages but does not list these specific family names.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that post-exilic community structure and sacred service were anchored in documented lineage and assigned roles. It establishes that identity and duty in the restored community were recorded, not assumed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
Cross-references
- Ezra 2:55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda,
- Nehemiah 11:3 These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—