Ezra 2 8

Ezra 2:8 kjv

The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

Ezra 2:8 nkjv

the people of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five;

Ezra 2:8 niv

of Zattu ? 945

Ezra 2:8 esv

The sons of Zattu, 945.

Ezra 2:8 nlt

The family of Zattu ? 945

Ezra 2 verses

Ezra 2 8 Meaning

Ezra 2:8 records the specific number of individuals belonging to the family line of Zattu who returned to Judah from Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a detailed genealogical register that highlights God’s meticulous preservation of His people and the literal fulfillment of His promise to restore a remnant to their homeland and establish a new community in Jerusalem.

Ezra 2 8 Context

Ezra 2:8 is embedded within a meticulous list in Ezra chapter 2, detailing the specific families and their numbers who returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah. This register served as a vital record for the post-exilic community, establishing identity, lineage, claims to ancestral lands, and qualifications for sacred roles. The return, initiated by Cyrus's decree in 538 BC (Ezr 1:1-4), marked a pivotal moment of divine restoration after the seventy years of captivity foretold by Jeremiah (Jer 29:10). The list in Ezra 2 provides tangible proof of God's faithfulness in bringing back a literal, identifiable remnant to rebuild their temple and society.

Ezra 2 8 Word analysis

• The descendants of: Hebrew: בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê). Literally "sons of." This term is foundational for establishing familial identity, lineage, and tribal affiliation in ancient Israelite society. It underscores the importance of a clear and traceable heritage, which was critical for matters of land inheritance, social standing, and participation in religious life after the exile. It indicates that the returning group was structured around traditional family units.
• Zattu: Hebrew: זַתּוּא (Zattu). This is a personal or clan name. While Zattu himself is not a major biblical figure, his inclusion here as a family head signifies the meticulous preservation of genealogical records despite the upheaval of the exile. The name itself does not carry a specific symbolic meaning relevant to the verse's main point, but its presence authenticates the historical accuracy and specific nature of the record.
• eight hundred and forty-five: Hebrew: שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה מֵא֥וֹת וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה (shə·mō·neh mê·’ōṯ wə·’ar·bā·‘îm wa·ḥă·miš·šāh). This precise numerical detail underscores the accuracy and careful documentation of the returned exiles. It highlights the literal and tangible nature of God's restoration, emphasizing that a specific number of His people, belonging to identified families, were brought back. This exactitude, rather than a rounded figure, lends historical credibility to the record and showcases divine providence in preserving a remnant.

Words-group analysis

• "The descendants of Zattu": This phrase emphasizes the family unit as the core building block of the returning community. It highlights the rigorous process of identification and confirmation of lineage, which was crucial for establishing legal and social order, re-claiming ancestral territories, and re-constituting Israelite society based on its historical covenant identity after the exile. It reflects a deep concern for maintaining tribal and familial distinctions, foundational to Israel's identity and promises related to the land.
• "eight hundred and forty-five": The specific count here provides irrefutable evidence of the historical event of the return. It speaks to the miraculous nature of God preserving an exact number of people through generations of captivity. This precision was vital for administrative purposes, for allocating resources and land, and for showing the literal fulfillment of prophecies concerning the return of the exiled. It portrays God's work as purposeful and numerically specific, not just a general event.

Ezra 2 8 Bonus section

• The lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7, while nearly identical, have slight numerical variations, likely due to differing stages of enumeration, inclusion criteria (e.g., only adult males vs. broader family units), or scribal transmission, yet both affirm the overwhelming majority returned from Babylon were of proven lineage.
• The meticulous genealogies reinforced Israel's unique identity as a covenant people distinct from the nations among whom they had been exiled, serving as a subtle polemic against any notion that their identity had been absorbed or lost.
• The precise counting demonstrates the divine and human collaboration in the restoration: God promised and empowered the return, while human leaders diligently organized and registered the returning exiles for the rebuilding task.
• These records were also vital for ensuring that only those with legitimate priestly or Levitical descent served in the reconstructed Temple, maintaining the ritual purity and order essential for post-exilic worship.

Ezra 2 8 Commentary

Ezra 2:8, part of a larger census, appears as a straightforward listing of numbers and names but carries profound theological weight. It serves as tangible evidence of God's unfailing faithfulness to His covenant promises, specifically regarding the restoration of His exiled people to their land. The meticulous enumeration of the descendants of Zattu, alongside other families, signifies the literal fulfillment of prophecies concerning the return of a "remnant." This precision highlights the specific and personal nature of God's providence, showing that He watches over and preserves individuals and families even through the greatest national catastrophe. For the returning community, such detailed records were crucial for validating their heritage, establishing legal claims, and reinforcing their distinct identity as God's chosen people, ensuring order and purity in the rebuilt society and temple worship. It illustrates that God’s plans are not abstract, but involve real people and precise details, enabling them to reconstruct their lives upon a clear and authenticated past.