נְקוֹדָא
Nekoda, a Temple-servant
Definition
Nekoda is the name of a family or clan of Temple servants (Nethinim) who returned from the Babylonian exile. The name appears exclusively in the post-exilic lists of returnees in Ezra and Nehemiah. In Ezra 2:48 and Nehemiah 7:50, the 'sons of Nekoda' are listed among the Nethinim, a group dedicated to assisting the Levites in the Temple's maintenance and service. In Ezra 2:60 and Nehemiah 7:62, the name appears again, but here it refers to a group whose members could not prove their Israelite ancestry, highlighting the importance of genealogical purity for the restored community.
Biblical Usage
The word is used solely in the post-exilic historical books of Ezra and Nehemiah, specifically within the official census lists of those who returned from Babylon. It functions as a proper noun identifying a specific group. In two instances (Ezra 2:48, Neh 7:50), the group is clearly identified as Temple servants. In two other parallel passages (Ezra 2:60, Neh 7:62), the group is noted for being unable to provide a verifiable genealogical record, which temporarily excluded them from the priesthood.
Etymology
Derived from the root נָקַד (nāqad, H5348), which means 'to mark' or 'to spot,' often used for speckled or spotted animals (like in Genesis 30:32). The feminine form נְקוֹדָא (Nᵉqôwdâʼ) likely carries a figurative sense of being 'marked out' or 'distinguished,' possibly referring to a clan known for a particular characteristic or role.
Semantic Range
The dual mention of Nekoda highlights key post-exilic theological themes: the sanctity of Temple service and the importance of covenant lineage. Their role as Nethinim underscores that God's worship requires dedicated, orderly service from specific appointed groups. Their appearance among those with questionable genealogy (Ezra 2:60) emphasizes the community's struggle to re-establish a pure, covenant people, reflecting the tension between grace and the requirements of the Law in the restoration period.
As Nethinim, the 'sons of Nekoda' occupied a specific, subordinate social and religious role in Israelite society, likely tracing their service back to assignments made by David (Ezra 8:20). Their inability to prove their ancestry in one list reflects the immense cultural and religious disruption of the exile, where family records were lost. Genealogical proof was crucial for reclaiming land, status, and the right to participate fully in the religious life of the restored community.
Nethinim (Nᵉthînîm, H5411) — The broader class of Temple servants to which the sons of Nekoda belonged.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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