Lexical Summary Mispereth: Number, Enumeration Original Word: מִסְפֶרֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mispereth Feminine of malkuw; enumeration; Mispereth, an Israelite -- Mispereth. Compare meltachah. see HEBREW malkuw see HEBREW meltachah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as sepher Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Mispereth (1). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Mispereth appears once in the Old Testament at Nehemiah 7:7, where he is listed among the twelve leaders who traveled “with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah” (Berean Standard Bible). A comparable list in Ezra 2:2 reads “Mispar,” almost certainly the same person, reflecting a common interchange of the consonants resh and daleth in Hebrew manuscripts. Historical Context The mention of Mispereth comes in the roll of those who spearheaded the first return from Babylonian captivity (circa 538 B.C.). This group, led by Zerubbabel and the high priest Jeshua, laid the foundation for the restoration of Judah’s national life, rebuilt the altar, and later the temple itself (Ezra 3:1–13; Haggai 1:12–15). The leaders named in Nehemiah 7:7 functioned as heads of clan units, supervising logistics, allotting property, and encouraging covenant fidelity among the repatriated community. Mispereth therefore belongs to the pioneering cadre that bridged the traumatic exile and the renewed hope of post-exilic worship in Jerusalem. Textual Considerations The variation between “Mispar” (Ezra 2:2) and “Mispereth” (Nehemiah 7:7) highlights the independent sources Ezra and Nehemiah drew upon. Ezra 2 likely reproduces an official Persian-era registry; Nehemiah 7 reproduces or updates that list almost a century later when Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall (Nehemiah 6:15). The preservation of both forms bears witness to the Spirit-guided integrity of Scripture, showing how parallel accounts can complement each other without contradiction. Theological Significance 1. God’s Care for Individuals: By recording Mispereth’s name, Scripture affirms that the Lord “calls his own sheep by name” (compare John 10:3). Even seemingly obscure persons are remembered in God’s narrative of redemption. Ministry Application • Faithful Service in Obscurity: Most believers will never be household names, yet Mispereth’s brief mention shows the eternal value God assigns to hidden obedience. Lessons for Today Mispereth’s solitary appearance is a reminder that God’s purposes unfold through both renowned and anonymous servants. He calls each believer to stand in his or her assigned place during seasons of restoration, trusting that no act of faithfulness goes unnoticed by the One who inscribes every name in His book (Revelation 20:12). Forms and Transliterations מִסְפֶּ֥רֶת מספרת mis·pe·reṯ misPeret mispereṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 7:7 HEB: מָרְדֳּכַ֥י בִּלְשָׁ֛ן מִסְפֶּ֥רֶת בִּגְוַ֖י נְח֣וּם NAS: Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, KJV: Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, INT: Mordecai Bilshan Mispereth Bigvai Nehum 1 Occurrence |
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