'People' in the Bible

Then my God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it:

These are the people of the province who went up among the captive exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Each of them returned to Jerusalem and Judah, to his own town.

the other Elam’s people1,254

Harim’s people320

Jericho’s people345

Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people721

Senaah’s people3,930.

The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.

So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple singers, some of the people, temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, >

all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel.

While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places.

They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”

Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law.

The people went out, brought back branches, and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops, and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Gate of Ephraim.

You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,all his officials, and all the people of his land,for You knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors.You made a name for Yourselfthat endures to this day.

So now, our God—the great, mighty,and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant—do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us,our kings and leaders,our priests and prophets,our ancestors and all Your people,from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.

The leaders of the people were:Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God—

We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral houses at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God’s house to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law.

Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.

The people praised all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people.

After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

The second thanksgiving procession went to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,

At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

At that time I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet in the garden courtyard of the royal palace for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were present in the fortress of Susa.

to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful.

He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, Haman decided not to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.

The king removed his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people.

Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”

Letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces telling the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people—young and old, women and children—and plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict came. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.

Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and command her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people.

“All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty. Only if the king extends the gold scepter will that person live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last 30 days.”

If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”

Queen Esther answered, “If I have obtained your approval, my king, and if the king is pleased, spare my life—this is my request; and spare my people—this is my desire.

For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?”

On that day the number of people killed in the fortress of Susa was reported to the king.

Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, famous among the Jews, and highly popular with many of his relatives. He continued to seek good for his people and to speak for the welfare of all his descendants.

His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.

Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Surely He knows which people are worthless.If He sees iniquity, will He not take note of it?

No doubt you are the people,and wisdom will die with you!

He has made me an object of scorn to the people;I have become a man people spit at.

He has no children or descendants among his people,no survivor where he used to live.

He cuts a shaft far from human habitation,in places unknown to those who walk above ground.Suspended far away from people,the miners swing back and forth.

They were expelled from human society;people shouted at them as if they were thieves.

In a dream, a vision in the night,when deep sleep falls on peopleas they slumber on their beds,

They die suddenly in the middle of the night;people shudder, then pass away.Even the mighty are removed without effort.

so that godless men should not ruleor ensnare the people.

People cry out because of severe oppression;they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty.

If people are bound with chainsand trapped by the cords of affliction,

Remember that you should praise His work,which people have sung about.

All mankind has seen it;people have looked at it from a distance.

I am not afraid of the thousands of peoplewho have taken their stand against me on every side.

Salvation belongs to the Lord;may Your blessing be on Your people.Selah

Will evildoers never understand?They consume My people as they consume bread;they do not call on the Lord.

Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people,Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

As for the holy people who are in the land,they are the noble ones.All my delight is in them.

Concerning what people do:by the word of Your lipsI have avoided the ways of the violent.

For You rescue an afflicted people,but You humble those with haughty eyes.

You have freed me from the feuds among the people;You have appointed me the head of nations;a people I had not known serve me.

But I am a worm and not a man,scorned by men and despised by people.

I can count all my bones;people look and stare at me.

They will come and tell a people yet to be bornabout His righteousness—what He has done.

The Lord is the strength of His people;He is a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.

Save Your people, bless Your possession,shepherd them, and carry them forever.

The Lord gives His people strength;the Lord blesses His people with peace.

Happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh—the people He has chosen to be His own possession!

I will praise You in the great congregation;I will exalt You among many people.

God, Your faithful love is so valuablethat people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

The little that the righteous man has is betterthan the abundance of many wicked people.

My tears have been my food day and night,while all day long people say to me,“Where is your God?”

You sell Your people for nothing;You make no profit from selling them.

Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider:forget your people and your father’s house,

The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people,will seek your favor with gifts.

The nobles of the peoples have assembledwith the people of the God of Abraham.For the leaders of the earth belong to God;He is greatly exalted.

Though he praises himself during his lifetime—and people praise you when you do well for yourself—

On high, He summons heaven and earthin order to judge His people.

“Listen, My people, and I will speak;I will testify against you, Israel.I am God, your God.

I will praise You forever for what You have done.In the presence of Your faithful people,I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.

Will evildoers never understand?They consume My people as they consume bread;they do not call on God.

Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!When God restores the fortunes of His people,Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Davidic Miktam.Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?Do you judge people fairly?

Then people will say,“Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!There is a God who judges on earth!”

Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.By Your power, make them homeless wanderersand bring them down,Lord, our shield.

You have made Your people suffer hardship;You have given us wine to drinkthat made us stagger.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;pour out your hearts before Him.God is our refuge.Selah

You visit the earth and water it abundantly,enriching it greatly.God’s stream is filled with water,for You prepare the earth in this way,providing people with grain.

God, when You went out before Your people,when You marched through the desert,Selah