The Meaning of Nehemiah 11:1 Explained

Nehemiah 11:1

KJV: And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.

YLT: And the heads of the people dwell in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people have caused to fall lots to bring in one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities,

Darby: And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem; and the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in the cities.

ASV: And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the rulers  of the people  dwelt  at Jerusalem:  the rest  of the people  also cast  lots,  to bring  one  of ten  to dwell  in Jerusalem  the holy  city,  and nine  parts  [to dwell] in [other] cities. 

What does Nehemiah 11:1 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 11

1  The rulers, voluntary men, and the tenth man chosen by lot, dwell at Jerusalem
3  A catalogue of their names
20  Those who remain dwell in other cities

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 11:1 mean?

And dwelt the leaders of the people at Jerusalem and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem city the holy and nine-tenths [were to dwell] in [other] cities
וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ שָׂרֵֽי־ הָעָ֖ם בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וּשְׁאָ֣ר הָ֠עָם הִפִּ֨ילוּ גוֹרָל֜וֹת לְהָבִ֣יא ׀ אֶחָ֣ד מִן־ הָעֲשָׂרָ֗ה לָשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ בִּֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עִ֣יר הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְתֵ֥שַׁע הַיָּד֖וֹת בֶּעָרִֽים

וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ  And  dwelt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
שָׂרֵֽי־  the  leaders 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הָעָ֖ם  of  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם  at  Jerusalem 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
וּשְׁאָ֣ר  and  the  rest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שְׁאָר  
Sense: rest, residue, remnant, remainder.
הָ֠עָם  of  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הִפִּ֨ילוּ  cast 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
גוֹרָל֜וֹת  lots 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּורָל  
Sense: lot.
לְהָבִ֣יא ׀  to  bring 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶחָ֣ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מִן־  out 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הָעֲשָׂרָ֗ה  of  ten 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
לָשֶׁ֙בֶת֙  to  dwell 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בִּֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙  in  Jerusalem 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
עִ֣יר  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ  the  holy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
הַיָּד֖וֹת  nine-tenths 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
בֶּעָרִֽים  [were  to  dwell]  in  [other]  cities 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.