These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that these returning exiles weren't just individuals, but "children of the province" and families returning "to his town." This emphasizes that their restoration wasn't just personal freedom, but a re-establishment of community and connection to their ancestral homes. It points to God’s deep concern for His people not just as believers, but as a connected people with a shared heritage and place.
These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nehemiah, moved by God, decides to compile a genealogy of those who returned from exile. He discovers an existing register from the first wave of returnees under Zerubbabel, detailing their lineage and original towns in Judah. This verse introduces that list, emphasizing that these individuals are descendants of those exiled by Nebuchadnezzar and are now resettling in their ancestral homes after their return to Jerusalem.
Did Nehemiah decide to make this census on his own? Or was there something more at play?
The text highlights that Nehemiah's decision to compile a genealogy wasn't just a practical organizational step. It was prompted by God.
Divine Impluse
Nehemiah 7:5 says, 'my God put into my heart...' This reveals that even actions we might see as administrative or based on 'common prudence' can be divinely inspired. God can move in our hearts to guide our decisions and actions, aligning them with His purposes.
Purposeful Records
This wasn't just about counting heads. It was about re-establishing identity and order after exile. The careful recording of who returned, where they were from, and to which town they belonged, helped solidify the community in their ancestral land.
What does it mean to return from exile? It's more than just a physical journey.
Nehemiah 7:6 opens with a profound reminder of the exiles' history: they were 'carried away' by Nebuchadnezzar and are now returning.
The Scar of Exile
Being 'carried away' signifies a loss of homeland, freedom, and identity. The Babylonian exile was a severe judgment, a consequence of Israel's disobedience. The return wasn't just a relocation; it was a step towards restoration and reconciliation with God.
Reclaiming Identity
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'Each to his town' is significant. It points to the reclaiming of ancestral homes and the re-establishment of their specific communities. This return was about more than just occupying space; it was about re-inhabiting their heritage and their God-given land, rebuilding not just cities but their lives.
Understand the original words
shebi · Hebrew Noun
A state of being held against one's will, often used in Scripture to describe divine judgment or historical subjugation by foreign powers; it serves as a metaphor for spiritual bondage to sin.
golah · Hebrew Noun
One who is forced to live outside their native land, typically due to judgment or conquest; in biblical theology, it signifies the condition of being separated from God's presence or the Promised Land.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Noun
The capital city of the Southern Kingdom and the site of the Temple; it represents the dwelling place of God on earth, the center of worship, and a symbol of God's redemptive hope for His people.
This verse highlights the profound significance of the return from Babylonian exile. It’s not just a geographical relocation but a reclaiming of identity and heritage after decades of displacement and loss, underscoring the deep desire to return to one's ancestral home and community.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, beginning the Babylonian exile and deporting a select group of Judeans, including royalty and skilled individuals.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, intensifying the exile and scattering the remaining Judeans throughout the Babylonian empire.
538 BC
Cyrus' Edict of Return
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
537 BC
First Return Under Zerubbabel
The first major group of Judean exiles, led by Zerubbabel, returns to Jerusalem and Judah to begin rebuilding the city and the Temple.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Commission and Return
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, receives permission and resources to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, facing significant opposition.
This passage describes the initial decree by Cyrus the Great that allowed the Jewish exiles to return from Babylon to Jerusalem, setting the stage for the events Nehemiah is recounting.
Ezra 2:1-2This passage contains a very similar preamble to the list of those who returned from exile, directly referencing the same group of people and their return to their cities.
Jeremiah 29:10This prophetic word from Jeremiah foretold the exact length of the Babylonian exile and the eventual return of the people to their land, which is the historical backdrop for Nehemiah 7:6.
Isaiah 44:28This verse speaks of Cyrus as God's shepherd who would accomplish His purposes, including the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of the temple, directly relating to the return of the exiles mentioned in Nehemiah.
gillNehemiah 7:6: "These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;"
These are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity,.... Who were of the province of Judea, as it was now reduced, and came up out of the captivity of Babylon through the edict of Cyrus; see Ezra 2:1 , where the same preface…
cambridgeNehemiah 7:6: "These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;"
6 . came again to ] R.V. returned unto. Ezra 2:1 has ‘carried away unto Babylon ’; the words ‘unto Babylon’ have probably been accidentally omitted in transcription.
The verse highlights that these returning exiles weren't just individuals, but "children of the province" and families returning "to his town." This emphasizes that their restoration wasn't just personal freedom, but a re-establishment of community and connection to their ancestral homes. It points to God’s deep concern for His people not just as believers, but as a connected people with a shared heritage and place.
Nehemiah, moved by God, decides to compile a genealogy of those who returned from exile. He discovers an existing register from the first wave of returnees under Zerubbabel, detailing their lineage and original towns in Judah. This verse introduces that list, emphasizing that these individuals are descendants of those exiled by Nebuchadnezzar and are now resettling in their ancestral homes after their return to Jerusalem.
Nehemiah, moved by God, decides to compile a genealogy of those who returned from exile. He discovers an existing register from the first wave of returnees under Zerubbabel, detailing their lineage and original towns in Judah. This verse introduces that list, emphasizing that these individuals are descendants of those exiled by Nebuchadnezzar and are now resettling in their ancestral homes after their return to Jerusalem.
"These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town." — The verse highlights that these returning exiles weren't just individuals, but "children of the province" and families returning "to his town." This emphasizes that their restoration wasn't just pers…
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Last reviewed October 2026