Nehemiah 12:28
New International Version
The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites,

New Living Translation
The singers were brought together from the region around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites.

English Standard Version
And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;

Berean Standard Bible
The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,

King James Bible
And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

New King James Version
And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,

New American Standard Bible
So the sons of the singers were assembled from the territory around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,

NASB 1995
So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,

NASB 1977
So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,

Legacy Standard Bible
So the sons of the singers were gathered from the district around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites,

Amplified Bible
So the sons of the singers gathered together from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,

Christian Standard Bible
The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the settlements of the Netophathites,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,

American Standard Version
And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;

English Revised Version
And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the groups of singers came together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of Netophah,

Good News Translation
The Levite families of singers gathered from the area where they had settled around Jerusalem and from the towns around Netophah,

International Standard Version
So the descendants of the singers gathered themselves together from the region surrounding Jerusalem, from the villages of Netophathi,

Majority Standard Bible
The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,

NET Bible
The singers were also assembled from the district around Jerusalem and from the settlements of the Netophathites

New Heart English Bible
The sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the sons of the singers assembled, both out of the plain country around Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

World English Bible
The sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and sons of the singers are gathered together even from the circuit around Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi,

Young's Literal Translation
and sons of the singers are gathered together even from the circuit round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of those singing will gather together, and from the circuit round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the sons of the singing men were gathered together out of the plain country about Jerusalem, and out of the villages of Nethuphati,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the sons of the singing men were gathered from the plains surrounding Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophati,

New American Bible
The levitical singers gathered together from the region about Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,

New Revised Standard Version
The companies of the singers gathered together from the circuit around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together from the plain country round about Jerusalem and from the villages of Netopha;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Ministers assembled from the plain that is around Jerusalem and from the courtyards of Netapha
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the Plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sons of the singers were assembled both from the neighbourhood round about to Jerusalem, and from the villages,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Dedication of the Wall
27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, 29from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.…

Cross References
Ezra 2:41
The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 128.

1 Chronicles 25:1-7
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service: / From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. / From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD. ...

2 Chronicles 5:12-13
all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. / The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud

Psalm 68:25
The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.

Psalm 81:1-2
For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. / Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

Psalm 95:1-2
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation! / Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.

Psalm 100:1-2
A Psalm of thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. / Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs.

Psalm 147:1
Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and lovely to praise Him!

Isaiah 51:11
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Jeremiah 31:12-13
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish. / Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.

1 Chronicles 15:16-22
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals. / So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; / and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. ...

2 Chronicles 29:25-30
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets. / The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. / And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. ...

2 Chronicles 35:15
The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

Psalm 149:1-3
Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise in the assembly of the godly. / Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. / Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

Psalm 150:1-6
Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. / Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness. / Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

plain.

Nehemiah 6:2
That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

Netophathi.

1 Chronicles 2:54
The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.

1 Chronicles 9:16
And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.

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Assembled Children Circuit Country Daughter-Towns District Gathered Jerusalem Jordan Music-Makers Netophathites Netoph'athites Plain Region Round Singers Themselves Together Villages
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Assembled Children Circuit Country Daughter-Towns District Gathered Jerusalem Jordan Music-Makers Netophathites Netoph'athites Plain Region Round Singers Themselves Together Villages
Nehemiah 12
1. The priests and the Levites which came up with Zerubbabel.
10. The succession of high priests.
22. Certain chief Levites.
27. The solemnity of the dedication of the walls.
44. The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple.














The singers
In the context of ancient Israel, singers held a significant role in worship and temple services. The Hebrew word for singers, "מְשׁוֹרְרִים" (meshorrerim), indicates those who are skilled in song. Historically, these individuals were part of the Levitical order, specifically set apart for the purpose of leading the people in worship through music. Their gathering signifies a unified effort to restore and celebrate the spiritual life of the community, emphasizing the importance of worship in the life of God's people.

gathered
The act of gathering, "נֶאֶסְפוּ" (ne'esfu), suggests a deliberate and purposeful assembly. This was not a casual meeting but a concerted effort to bring together those who were dedicated to the service of God through music. The gathering of the singers symbolizes unity and collective dedication to the worship of God, reflecting the communal nature of Israel's faith and the importance of coming together to honor God.

from the region around Jerusalem
This phrase highlights the geographical and cultural context of the time. Jerusalem was the spiritual and political center of Israel, and the surrounding regions were integral to its support and sustenance. The singers coming from these areas indicate the widespread commitment to the restoration of Jerusalem's spiritual life. It also reflects the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish worship and the desire of the people to contribute to its religious revival.

from the villages of the Netophathites
The Netophathites were a group of people from the town of Netophah, mentioned in the genealogies of the tribes of Israel. The specific mention of these villages underscores the diverse origins of those who participated in the worship and rebuilding efforts. It highlights the inclusivity of the worship community, drawing from various backgrounds and locations to create a unified chorus of praise. This diversity within unity is a powerful testament to the collective identity of God's people, transcending individual origins for a common purpose in worship.

Verse 28. - The sons of the singers. i.e. the Levites who belonged to the class of singers (1 Chronicles 15:16-22; Nehemiah 7:44, etc.). The plain country round about Jerusalem. Dean Stanley understands by this "the Jordan valley" ('Lectures on the Jewish Church,' Third Series, p. 129); but that is a district too remote to be intended by the words "round about Jerusalem." The valleys of Hinnom and Jehoshaphat better suit the description. The villages of Netophathi. Rather, "of the Netophathites" (see 1 Chronicles 9:16), or people of Netophah, which was a country town not far from Bethlehem.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The singers were also
הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים (ham·šō·rə·rîm)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7891: To sing

assembled
וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ (way·yê·’ā·sə·p̄ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

from
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the region
הַכִּכָּר֙ (hak·kik·kār)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money)

around
סְבִיב֣וֹת (sə·ḇî·ḇō·wṯ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

Jerusalem,
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

from
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the villages
חַצְרֵ֖י (ḥaṣ·rê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

of the Netophathites,
נְטֹפָתִֽי׃ (nə·ṭō·p̄ā·ṯî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5200: Netophathite -- inhabitant of Netophah


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OT History: Nehemiah 12:28 The sons of the singers gathered themselves (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 12:27
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