5570. Senaah
Lexical Summary
Senaah: Senaah

Original Word: סְנָאָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Cna'ah
Pronunciation: seh-naw-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (sen-aw-aw')
KJV: Senaah, Hassenaah (with the article)
NASB: Senaah, Hassenaah
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to prick]

1. thorny
2. Senaah, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Senaah, Hassenaah with the article

From an unused root meaning to prick; thorny; Senaah, a place in Palestine -- Senaah, Hassenaah (with the article).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a family of returning exiles
NASB Translation
Hassenaah (1), Senaah (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
סְנָאָה apparently proper name, masculine ׳בְּנֵי ס Ezra 2:35 = Nehemiah 7:38, ׳בְּנֵי הַסּ Nehemiah 3:3; ᵐ5 Σαανα, Σανανα(τ), etc., ᵐ5L Σενναα; MeyJudenth. 150, 154 reads סְנֻאָה (׳ס for ׳שׂ, compare סְנוּאָה) = sons of the hated (rejected) woman, i.e. the poorer classes of Jerusalem.

סְנוּאָה proper name, masculine (but see סְנָאָה); — ׳בֶּןהַֿסּ Nehemiah 11:9 (ᵐ5 Ασανα, ᵐ5L Ασεννα), בֶּןהַֿסְּנֻאָה 1 Chronicles 9:7 (ᵐ5 Αανα, A Ασανουα, ᵐ5L Σαανα).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Senaah designates both a family clan and their ancestral settlement in the post-exilic records. Although mentioned only three times, this name is woven into the narrative thread that chronicles God’s faithful preservation of His covenant people during the return from Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Geographical Setting

The exact location of Senaah is uncertain, yet its repeated pairing with towns north of Jerusalem has led many scholars to place it in the Benjamin hill country or on the western edge of the Jordan Valley. Its people could therefore journey to the capital without crossing imperial borders, enabling ready participation in restoration work sanctioned by Persian edict.

Biblical Occurrences and Context

1. Ezra 2:35 lists “the descendants of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.” This sizeable contingent traveled with Zerubbabel in the first wave of returnees (circa 538 BC). Their numbers rank among the largest of any single family named in the census, underscoring both the cohesion of the clan and their readiness to sacrifice comfort in Babylon for life in a devastated homeland.
2. Nehemiah 3:3 records their next appearance nearly a century later: “The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and set up its doors, bolts, and bars.” Here, Senaah’s descendants take a leading role in fortifying Jerusalem’s northern defense line. Their work on a commercial gate that opened toward the Mediterranean corridor speaks to entrepreneurial vigor and civic commitment.
3. Nehemiah 7:38 repeats the census after the wall is completed: “the people of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.” The slight increase of three hundred demonstrates demographic resilience during difficult decades of famine, opposition, and heavy taxation (Nehemiah 5:1–5).

Return from Exile—A Testimony of Faith

The prominence of Senaah in the returns highlights the Lord’s ability to preserve an identifiable remnant as promised by the prophets (Jeremiah 29:10–14). Their willingness to uproot from prosperous Babylon mirrors Abraham’s obedience (Genesis 12:1–4) and anticipates the New Testament call to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

Service in Rebuilding Jerusalem

By repairing the Fish Gate, the sons of Senaah helped secure the city’s most vulnerable sector. The task required carpentry, metalwork, and coordination with neighboring crews, illustrating Paul’s later description of the church as a body in which “the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21). Each family’s distinct contribution advanced a common mission.

Theological and Ministry Lessons

• God values faithful anonymity. Senaah never produces a famous prophet or king, yet their steadfast labor earns three inspired mentions.
• Spiritual revival is tied to physical stewardship. Rebuilding a gate was an act of worship because it protected the venue for sacrifice and teaching.
• Multiplication comes through obedience. Their numbers grow in the face of hardship, echoing the principle that “whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Legacy in Redemptive History

Senaah stands as a collective witness that covenant promises extend to entire households. Their account encourages contemporary believers to seize generational opportunities—whether planting churches, rebuilding communities, or supporting missions—with confidence that God records every act of faith (Hebrews 6:10).

Forms and Transliterations
הַסְּנָאָ֑ה הסנאה סְנָאָ֔ה סנאה has·sə·nā·’āh hassənā’āh hassenaAh sə·nā·’āh sənā’āh senaAh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 2:35
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י סְנָאָ֔ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים
NAS: the sons of Senaah, 3630
KJV: The children of Senaah, three thousand
INT: the children of Senaah three thousand

Nehemiah 3:3
HEB: בָּנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י הַסְּנָאָ֑ה הֵ֣מָּה קֵר֔וּהוּ
NAS: Now the sons of Hassenaah built
KJV: did the sons of Hassenaah build,
INT: built now the sons of Hassenaah they laid

Nehemiah 7:38
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י סְנָאָ֔ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים
NAS: the sons of Senaah, 3930
KJV: The children of Senaah, three thousand
INT: the children of Senaah three thousand

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5570
3 Occurrences


has·sə·nā·’āh — 1 Occ.
sə·nā·’āh — 2 Occ.

5569
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