Lexical Summary nethinim: temple servants Original Word: נָתִין Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nethinims Or Nathuwn (Ezra 8:17) {naw-thoon'} (the proper form as passive participle), from nathan; one given, i.e. (in the plural only) the Nethinim, or Temple-servants (as given to that duty) -- Nethinims. see HEBREW nathan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nathan Definition temple servants NASB Translation temple servants (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs נְתִינִים noun masculine plural Nethinim (properly those given to the service of the sanctuary, as Levites are called נְתוּנִים Numbers 3:9; Numbers 8:16,19); — only 1 Chronicles 9:2 (where distinguished from priests and Levites) + 16 t. Ezra Nehemiah (often distinguished from priests, Levites and porters; Ezra 8:17 Kt has הנתונים, Qr הַנְּתִינִים), namely: Ezra 2:43,58,70 = Nehemiah 7:46; Nehemiah 7:60; Nehemiah 7:72 (so Baer, Ginsb; van d. H. Nehemiah 7:73), Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:17,20 (appointment ascribed to David, compare 1 Chronicles 9:2), 1 Chronicles 9:20; Nehemiah 10:29; Nehemiah 11:3; living on the Ophel Nehemiah 3:26; Nehemiah 11:21; with their own overseers Nehemiah 11:21, having a house known (in part) by their name Nehemiah 3:31. — On ׳נ see further BauPriesterthum 100, 142 f. Topical Lexicon Designation and Role Nethinim were a hereditary order of men “given” to assist the Levites in the daily work of the sanctuary. They drew water, cut wood, guarded gates, maintained storerooms, and performed other humble tasks so that the Levites could concentrate on sacrifices, teaching, and music. Origins and Development The order arose from Joshua’s covenant with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:27), whose descendants became permanent servants “for the altar of the LORD.” David later organized and enlarged their ranks (Ezra 8:20), formally attaching them to the Levitical service. Post-Exilic Return and Census Lists When Judah returned from Babylon the Nethinim re-emerged as a recognizable body: Location Around the Second Temple They lived on the Ophel (Nehemiah 3:26), the ridge just south of the Temple courts, placing them close to their duties. They helped repair Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 3:26, 31) and remained in Ophel under overseers Ziha and Gishpa (Nehemiah 11:21). Relationship to Priests and Levites Scripture constantly groups Nethinim with priests and Levites (Ezra 7:7) yet keeps their identity distinct. Though of foreign descent, they enjoyed covenant status, shared in the people’s tithes (cf. Ezra 7:24), and were bound by Temple purity regulations. Their genealogies underscore that service to God, not social rank, determined their worth. Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Applications • Servanthood: Their very name—“given ones”—embodies self-sacrifice, anticipating Christ who “took the form of a servant.” Messianic and Prophetic Connections Isaiah’s vision of foreigners who “join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him” (Isaiah 56:6) finds a historical echo in the Nethinim and a fuller realization in the Church, “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Key Scriptures 1 Chronicles 9:2 – “Now the first to settle on their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.” Ezra 8:20 – “From the temple servants whom David and the officials had appointed to assist the Levites, two hundred twenty temple servants were set apart, all of them were designated by name.” Nehemiah 11:21 – “The temple servants lived on Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over the temple servants.” Forms and Transliterations הַ֨נְּתִינִ֔ים הַנְּתִינִ֑ים הַנְּתִינִ֔ים הַנְּתִינִ֖ים הַנְּתִינִ֗ים הַנְּתִינִֽים׃ הַנְּתִינִים֙ הנתינים הנתינים׃ וְהַ֨נְּתִינִ֔ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֔ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֛ים וְהַנְּתִינִֽים׃ והנתינים והנתינים׃ נְתִינִ֖ים נתינים han·nə·ṯî·nîm hannetiNim hannəṯînîm nə·ṯî·nîm netiNim nəṯînîm vehannetiNim wə·han·nə·ṯî·nîm wəhannəṯînîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 9:2 HEB: הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים הַלְוִיִּ֖ם וְהַנְּתִינִֽים׃ NAS: the Levites and the temple servants. KJV: Levites, and the Nethinims. INT: the priests the Levites and the temple Ezra 2:43 Ezra 2:58 Ezra 2:70 Ezra 7:7 Ezra 8:17 Ezra 8:20 Ezra 8:20 Nehemiah 3:26 Nehemiah 3:31 Nehemiah 7:46 Nehemiah 7:60 Nehemiah 7:73 Nehemiah 10:28 Nehemiah 11:3 Nehemiah 11:21 Nehemiah 11:21 17 Occurrences |
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