Nehemiah 11:13and his brothers, chiefs of fathers' houses, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
The setting
Jerusalem, 445 BC. Dawn. Family heads gathering at the temple gates, each representing dozens of relatives...
The emotion here: awe at the weight of leadership while chronicling restoration
The original word
raʾshey (רָאשֵׁי) — heads, chiefs, those who go first into danger
Why it matters
242 family chiefs meant roughly 2,400 people under their care and authority
Read with care
What most readers miss in Nehemiah 11:13
These weren't just religious leaders — they were refugee camp coordinators rebuilding civilization
Common misconceptionThis looks like boring bureaucracy, but these 242 men were essentially founding fathers — each decision affected hundreds of lives in a fragile new community.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Nehemiah 11:13
Bible Genome reading
Nehemiah 11:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Nehemiah 11:13 comes from the book of Nehemiah, written during the Post-Exile period. These words are attributed to Nehemiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the genealogy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include family leadership, organization. Notable phrases: chiefs of fathers' houses; two hundred forty-two.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does Nehemiah 11:13 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "grateful"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.