Nethinim* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Term appearing only in the books written after Israel’s return from exile (1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah). Nethinim derives from the verb nathan, “to give, set apart, dedicate,” and means “those given” or “those set apart or dedicated.” The Septuagint translates the word dedomenoi. Some recent translators have followed Josephus (Antiquities 11.5.1) by referring to them as “temple slaves.” The NLT reads “Temple assistants.”

Show passage in OET: CH1 9:2

OET-RV CH1 9:2

2 The first to return and resettle their land and their cities were some priests, Levites, temple servants, and other Israelis.

OET-LV CH1 9:2

2 And_the_inhabitants (the)_first who were_in_possession _of_their in_cities _of_their were_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the_priests the_Lēviyyiy and_the _temple_servants.

Show passage in OET: NEH 7:73

OET-RV NEH 7:73

73 So the priests and the Levites, the gatekeepers and the singers, the temple workers and the rest of the Israelis, all settled in their various ancestral cities.

OET-LV NEH 7:72

72  And_ the_priests and_the_Lēviyyiy and_the_gatekeepers and_the_singers and_from the_people and_the _temple_servants and_all Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _lived in_their _own _of_cities and_ the_month the_seventh _it _arrived and_the _sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) were_in_cities _of_their.

Show passage in OET: NEH 11:3; NEH 11:20–21

OET-RV NEH 11:3

3 In the towns in Yehudah (Judah), everyone lived on their own property. That included the Israelis, the priests and Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Shelomoh’s (Solomon’s) servants. The provincial officials lived in Yerushalem,

OET-RV NEH 11:20

20 The rest of Yisrael (Israel) and the other priests and Levites, all lived their ancestral towns across Yehudah (Judah).

OET-RV NEH 11:21

21 The temple workers lived on Ofel hill, and Tsiha and Gishpa supervised them.

OET-LV NEH 11:3

3 And_these are_the _leaders _of the _province who they _dwelt in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_in_the _cities _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) they _dwelt each on_his _own _of_property in_their _own _of_cities Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the_priests and_the_Lēviyyiy and_the _temple_servants and_the _sons of _the _servants _of of _Shəlomoh/(Solomon).

OET-LV NEH 11:20

20 And_the _rest _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the_priests the_Lēviyyiy in_all the _cities _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) each on_his _own _of_inheritance.

OET-LV NEH 11:21

21 And_the _temple_servants were_dwelling on_ˊOfel and_Tsīḩāʼ/(Ziha) and_Gishpāʼ were_over the _temple_servants.

Show passage in OET: EZR 2:43; EZR 2:58

OET-RV EZR 2:43

43 The temple servants who returned:

•

The descendants of Tsiha, Hasufa, and Tabaeot,

OET-RV EZR 2:58

58 Altogether there were 392 descendants of temple workers and Shelomoh’s servants who returned.

OET-LV EZR 2:43

43 The _temple_servants the _descendants _of Tsīḩāʼ/(Ziha) the _descendants _of Ḩₐsūfāʼ the _descendants _of Ţabāˊōt.

OET-LV EZR 2:58

58 All _of the _temple_servants and_the _sons of _the _servants _of of _Shəlomoh three hundred(s) ninety and_two.

Show passage in OET: EZR 7:7; EZR 7:24

OET-RV EZR 7:7

7 Some Israelis, including some priests and Levites, singers and gatekeepers, and some temple servants travelled to Yerushalem in the seventh year of Artahshashta’s reign.

OET-RV EZR 7:24

24 ⇔Also, it should be made clear that there is no authority to extract taxes or tribute from any priests or Levites, singers or the gatekeepers, the temple servants or the servants of that house of God.

OET-LV EZR 7:7

7 And_ from_(the)_sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_from the_priests and_the_Lēviyyiy and_the_singers and_the_gatekeepers and_the _temple_servants _they _came _up to Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) in_year seven of_ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ the_king.

OET-LV EZR 7:24

24 And_to_you(pl) we _are_making _known that all _of the_priests and_the_Lēviyyiy the_singers the_gatekeepers the _temple_servants and_the _servants _of the _house _of the_god this tribute tax and_toll not is_authorized to_throw on_them.

Show passage in OET: EZR 8:17; EZR 8:20

OET-RV EZR 8:17

17 I commanded them to go to Ido, the leader at Kasifya, and I told them to tell Ido and his relatives (temple servants in Kasifya) to send us some Levites who would go to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to serve in our god’s temple.

OET-RV EZR 8:20

20 plus two hundred and twenty descendants of Levite temple servants that King David and his officials had appointed for service—all designated by name.

OET-LV EZR 8:17

17 And them to ˊIddō the_leader in_Kāşifyāʼ/(Casiphia) the_place I_put in_mouth _of_their words/messages to_speak to ˊIddō his/its_brother the in_Kāşifyāʼ/(Casiphia) the_place to_bring to/for_us servants for_the _house _of our _god _of_our.

OET-LV EZR 8:20

20 And_from the _temple_servants whom_ Dāvid and_the_officials _he _had _appointed for_the _work _of the _Lēviyyiy temple _servants two _hundred and_twenty of _them _of_all they _had _been _designated by_names.

Show passage in OET: NEH 7:46; NEH 7:60

OET-RV NEH 7:46

46 The temple servants:

•

the descendants of Tsiha, Hasufa, and Tabaeot,

OET-RV NEH 7:60

60 Altogether, there were 392 descendants of the temple workers and conscripted labourers.

OET-LV NEH 7:46

46 The _temple_servants the _descendants _of Tsīḩāʼ/(Ziha) the _descendants _of Ḩₐsūfāʼ the _descendants _of Ţabāˊōt.

OET-LV NEH 7:60

60 All _of the _temple_servants and_the _sons of _the _servants _of of _Shəlomoh three hundred(s) ninety and_two.

Show passage in OET: EZR 7:7

OET-RV EZR 7:7

7 Some Israelis, including some priests and Levites, singers and gatekeepers, and some temple servants travelled to Yerushalem in the seventh year of Artahshashta’s reign.

OET-LV EZR 7:7

Show passage in OET: NEH 3:31

OET-RV NEH 3:31

31 Next was the goldsmiths’ son Malkiyah who repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and up to the upper room in the corner,

OET-LV NEH 3:31

31 After_him Malkīy^yāh the _son _of the _goldsmith[s] he _repaired to the _house _of the _temple _servants and_the_traders before the _gate _of the _muster and_unto the _roof-chamber _of the _corner.

Show passage in OET: NEH 11:21

OET-RV NEH 11:21

21 The temple workers lived on Ofel hill, and Tsiha and Gishpa supervised them.

OET-LV NEH 11:21

21 And_the _temple_servants were_dwelling on_ˊOfel and_Tsīḩāʼ/(Ziha) and_Gishpāʼ were_over the _temple_servants.

Show passage in OET: NEH 3:26

OET-RV NEH 3:26

26 The temple servants who lived in Ofel repaired as far as the eastern side of the Water Gate and its tower.

OET-LV NEH 3:26

26 And_the _temple_servants who_they _were dwelling on_ˊOfel to before the _gate _of the_waters to_east and_the_tower which_projects.

Jump to OET CH1 9:2 section.

Jump to OET NEH 7:73 section.

Jump to OET NEH 11:3 section. · OET NEH 11:20–21 section.

Jump to OET EZR 2:43 section. · OET EZR 2:58 section.

Jump to OET EZR 7:7 section. · OET EZR 7:24 section.

Jump to OET EZR 8:17 section. · OET EZR 8:20 section.

Jump to OET NEH 7:46 section. · OET NEH 7:60 section.

Jump to OET EZR 7:7 section.

Jump to OET NEH 3:31 section.

Jump to OET NEH 11:21 section.

Jump to OET NEH 3:26 section.

The identification of the Nethinim is not absolutely certain. Numbers 31:47 records that the Levites received captives who were assigned laborious and menial tasks. When the Gibeonites were accepted within Israel as servants, they too were appointed as water carriers and wood choppers for the entire community and the altar of the Lord (Jos 9:9-27). David augmented the number of tabernacle servants by assigning captives taken in war to these duties (Ezr 8:20). At the completion of the temple, the temple services called for more workers, and Solomon added to their number. This new group became known as “Solomon’s men.” Ezra records that from the Nethinim, 392 returned from exile to Jerusalem (2:58) and performed the work in the rebuilt temple that had been done by their ancestors before the exile. Considered full members of the restored covenant community, the Nethinim devoted themselves to God (Neh 10:28).