The Meaning of Nehemiah 12:37 Explained

Nehemiah 12:37

KJV: And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.

YLT: and by the gate of the fountain and over-against them, they have gone up by the steps of the city of David, at the going up of the wall beyond the house of David, and unto the water-gate eastward.

Darby: And at the fountain-gate, and over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water-gate eastward.

ASV: And by the fountain gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And at the fountain  gate,  which was over against them, they went up  by the stairs  of the city  of David,  at the going up  of the wall,  above the house  of David,  even unto the water  gate  eastward. 

What does Nehemiah 12:37 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 12

1  The priests and the Levites which came up with Zerubbabel
10  The succession of high priests
22  Certain chief Levites
27  The solemnity of the dedication of the walls
44  The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 12:37 mean?

And by Gate the Fountain and in front of them they went up upon the stairs of the City of David on the stairway of the wall upon beyond the house and as far as Gate the Water eastward
וְעַל֩ שַׁ֨עַר הָעַ֜יִן וְנֶגְדָּ֗ם עָלוּ֙ עַֽל־ מַעֲלוֹת֙ עִ֣יר דָּוִ֔יד בַּֽמַּעֲלֶ֖ה לַחוֹמָ֑ה מֵעַל֙ לְבֵ֣ית וְעַ֛ד שַׁ֥עַר הַמַּ֖יִם מִזְרָֽח

וְעַל֩  And  by 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שַׁ֨עַר  Gate 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
הָעַ֜יִן  the  Fountain 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וְנֶגְדָּ֗ם  and  in  front  of  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
עָלוּ֙  they  went  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
עַֽל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַעֲלוֹת֙  the  stairs 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַעֲלָה 
Sense: what comes up, thoughts.
עִ֣יר  of  the  City 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
דָּוִ֔יד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בַּֽמַּעֲלֶ֖ה  on  the  stairway 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲלֶה  
Sense: ascent, incline.
לַחוֹמָ֑ה  of  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
מֵעַל֙  upon 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לְבֵ֣ית  beyond  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וְעַ֛ד  and  as  far  as 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
שַׁ֥עַר  Gate 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
הַמַּ֖יִם  the  Water 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מִזְרָֽח  eastward 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְרָח  
Sense: place of sunrise, east.