Lexical Definition

‎נְקוֹדָא‎ Nᵉqôwdâʼ (nek-o-daw') Nekoda ^N:N-M-P
feminine of ‎נָקֹד‎ (in the figurative sense of marked); distinction

Nekoda.

• § Nekoda = "distinguished"
• Nekoda, a Temple-servant

1) head of a family of temple slaves returning from exile to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel
2) head of a family of exiles who were from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer and who could not identify their father's house or their genealogy being of Israel and who returned with Zerubbabel

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.60

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎נְקוֺדָא‎ proper name, masculine head of a family of Nethinim Ezra 2:48; Ezra 2:60 = Neh 7:50; Neh 7:62, ᵐ5 Νεκωθα, Νεχωδα.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Returned priest • Family excluded from the priesthood after the Exile.

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

The descendants of Nekoda were among those who could not prove their priestly lineage after returning from the Babylonian exile.

• A priest living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.60;
• only referred to as Nekoda נְקוֹדָא.

Nekoda is mentioned in Ezra 2:60 and Nehemiah 7:62 as one of the families who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity but were unable to prove their lineage as Israelites or priests. This incident occurred during the time of Zerubbabel, who led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem around 538 BC.

According to the text, the descendants of Nekoda, along with those of Delaiah and Tobiah, sought to be included among the priests but could not find their names in the genealogical records. As a result, they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood.

The importance of genealogical records in determining priestly lineage is evident from this account. The priests were required to prove their descent from Aaron, the first high priest, to be eligible for service in the temple. The inability of the Nekoda family to establish their priestly heritage suggests that their ancestors may have been among those who had intermarried with non-Israelites during the exile, thus compromising their lineage.

The exclusion of the Nekoda family from the priesthood highlights the significance of maintaining the purity and integrity of the priestly line. It also underscores the challenges faced by the returning exiles in reestablishing their religious and social order after years of captivity in a foreign land.

Apart from this incident, no further information is provided about the Nekoda family or their subsequent role in the post-exilic Jewish community.

All entries for Nekoda: נְקוֹדָא