4559. Mispereth
Lexical Summary
Mispereth: Number, Enumeration

Original Word: מִסְפֶרֶת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Micpereth
Pronunciation: mis-peh-reth
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-peh'-reth)
KJV: Mispereth
NASB: Mispereth
Word Origin: [feminine of H443 (אֶלזָבָד - Elzabad)7]

1. enumeration
2. Mispereth, an Israelite

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 Origin
from 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.
2. Covenant Continuity: The return lists confirm that exile did not nullify the Abrahamic and Davidic promises. Mispereth’s inclusion testifies that God preserved a remnant through which the messianic line, worship, and Scripture itself would continue.
3. Corporate Responsibility: Leaders like Mispereth modeled collective commitment to rebuild spiritual and physical foundations. Their obedience foreshadows the New Testament pattern where elders and deacons labor for the health of the church (1 Timothy 3:1–13).

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.
• Rebuilding after Ruin: Churches or families recovering from moral or cultural collapse can look to the post-exilic leaders’ courage. Like Mispereth, they can help re-establish worship, community life, and Scriptural authority.
• Record-Keeping and Accountability: The careful enumeration of people and resources in Nehemiah encourages modern ministries to maintain transparent records as an act of stewardship.

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 mispereṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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

Strong's Hebrew 4559
1 Occurrence


mis·pe·reṯ — 1 Occ.

4558
Top of Page
Top of Page