King James Version

What Does Ezra 2:37 Mean?

Ezra 2:37 in the King James Version says “The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.”

Ezra 2:37 · KJV

Context

35

The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.

36

The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

37

The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

38

The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.

39

The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen .

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two—The name Immer (אִמֵּר) means 'lamb' or 'he has said/promised,' evoking both sacrificial ministry and God's covenant faithfulness. This priestly family produced 1,052 returnees, the second-largest priestly contingent. Ironically, Pashhur son of Immer was the priest who imprisoned Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1-2), yet God's covenant faithfulness preserved this line despite ancestral opposition to His prophet.

Immer's descendants illustrate God's grace in restoration—even families that produced enemies of the prophets received inclusion in the return. This demonstrates the principle Paul would later articulate: 'the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable' (Romans 11:29). The priestly calling transcended individual failure. Their later role in pure genealogical verification (Ezra 2:59-63) gained added significance given their own checkered history.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Immer headed the 16th priestly division in David's organization (1 Chronicles 24:14). During the monarchy, this family held positions of significant authority, including oversight of temple gates and treasuries. Their large representation (1,052) in the return suggests the family maintained cohesion and commitment despite some members' previous opposition to prophetic ministry.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's preservation of Immer's line despite Pashhur's persecution of Jeremiah demonstrate the irrevocable nature of God's calling?
  2. What does the inclusion of families with problematic histories teach about grace in leadership selection and restoration?
  3. In what ways does your own checkered spiritual history potentially deepen rather than disqualify your ministry effectiveness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 5 words
בְּנֵ֣י1 of 5

“The children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אִמֵּ֔ר2 of 5

“of Immer”

H564

immer, the name of five israelites

אֶ֖לֶף3 of 5

“a thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים4 of 5

“fifty”

H2572

fifty

וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃5 of 5

“and two”

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezra. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezra 2:37 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezra 2:37 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Chronicles 24:14Ezra 10:20Nehemiah 7:40

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