diminished; torn in pieces
(same as Nephishesim)
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Nephu'sim. (expansions). The same as Nephishesim, of which name, according to Gesenius, it is the proper form. Ezr_2:50.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
Nephusim
(Heb. Nephusai', נְפוּסַים, so the marg.; but the text has Nephisim',
נְפַיסַים, expansions; Sept. Νεφουσίμ v.r. Ναφεισών; Vulg. Naphusim), the head of a family of "Temple servants" who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 22:50). B.C. cir. 535. The parallel text (Neh_7:52) has (less correctly, it would seem) NEPHISHESIM (Heb. Nephishesim, נְפַישְׁסַים, g marg.; but text has Nephushesim', נְפוּשְׁסַים; Sept. Νεφωσάς, v.r. Νεφωσασεί, Νεφωσαείμ, Νεφωσασείμ; Vulg. Naphussim). SEE NETHINIM.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.