Ezra 7:4 kjv
The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
Ezra 7:4 nkjv
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
Ezra 7:4 niv
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
Ezra 7:4 esv
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
Ezra 7:4 nlt
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
Ezra 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||------------|-------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|| Ex 28:1 | "Bring near to you Aaron your brother...that he may serve as priest..." | God appointed Aaron and his descendants. || Ex 40:15 | "You shall anoint them as you anointed their father, that they may minister as priests..." | Eternal priesthood confirmed for Aaron's line.|| Lev 8:6-13 | "Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them...put the tunic on him..." | Consecration of the first priests. || Num 3:10 | "You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood..." | Exclusive rights and duties of Aaronic priests. || Num 18:7 | "But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for all things of the altar..." | Divine provision and responsibility for priests.|| 2 Sam 8:17 | "Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests..." | Zadok mentioned as priest during David's reign.|| 1 Ki 2:35 | "And Zadok the priest the king put in the place of Abiathar." | Zadok established as the high priest by Solomon. || 1 Chr 6:1-15 | (Detailed genealogy of the sons of Levi and Aaron, including Zadokites) | Provides a broader context for priestly lines. || 2 Ki 22:8 | "Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law...'" | Hilkiah's crucial discovery of the Law. || 2 Ki 23:4 | "And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest...to bring out of the temple of the Lord..." | Hilkiah's role in Josiah's reform. || Neh 8:1-3 | "All the people gathered as one man...Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform...and read from it..." | Ezra's later public reading of the Law. || Eze 44:15-16 | "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept guard at My sanctuary..." | God's affirmation of Zadok's descendants for future ministry. || Heb 5:4 | "And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was." | Divine calling and legitimacy for priesthood. || Heb 7:12 | "For when there is a change in the priesthood, there must be a change in the law as well." | Highlights the Law's dependence on the priesthood's lineage. || Lk 1:5 | "In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah..." | Importance of priestly lineage in New Testament. || Gal 4:4 | "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law..." | God's perfect timing and order in sending Christ. || Rom 1:3 | "Concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh..." | Importance of proper lineage for legitimacy in God's plan. || Titus 1:5 | "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders..." | Emphasis on proper authority and structure in God's work. || 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession..." | The spiritual priesthood of all believers. || Heb 8:1-2 | "We have such a high priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven..." | Christ as the ultimate High Priest, fulfilling all earthly priesthoods. |
Ezra 7 verses
Ezra 7 4 Meaning
Ezra 7:4 traces a segment of Ezra's priestly lineage back through several generations, including significant figures such as Hilkiah, Shallum, Zadok, and Ahitub. This verse serves to establish Ezra's credible and legitimate heritage within the Aaronic priesthood, particularly highlighting his descent from the revered Zadokite line. This validated ancestry provided the foundational authority necessary for Ezra's vital mission: to restore the Mosaic Law and pure worship among the Jewish remnant in post-exilic Jerusalem.
Ezra 7 4 Context
Ezra chapter 7 introduces Ezra, a prominent figure in the post-exilic period, identified as a priest and a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses. This chapter sets the stage for his return to Jerusalem, entrusted by King Artaxerxes to investigate and implement the Law of God among the Jewish community. Ezra 7:4, specifically, is part of a longer genealogical list (verses 1-5) detailing Ezra's priestly lineage. The immediate context shows Ezra's preparation for his journey and mission, where his reputable ancestry lends significant authority and credibility to his sacred task. Historically, this period followed the initial return under Zerubbabel and Joshua, focusing now on religious and social restoration based on Mosaic law, for which Ezra's established priestly connection was crucial. The meticulous recounting of his family tree underscores the paramount importance of lineage, especially for those in priestly service, to ensure their legitimacy and adherence to divine appointment within Israelite society.
Ezra 7 4 Word analysis
- Uri: While less prominent individually in the Bible, in a genealogical list, each name forms a link, connecting the person to a recognized, legitimate line.
- son of: This repeated phrase (Hebrew: ben) throughout the genealogy emphasizes the direct, bloodline succession essential for priestly legitimacy in Israel. It underscores inherited authority and a direct connection to preceding generations and covenant promises.
- Azariah: A common biblical name meaning "helped by Yahweh." Several significant figures bear this name, including priests. Its presence in the genealogy further reinforces the connection to a well-established priestly tradition.
- Hilkiah (Chilqiyyahû - "my portion is Yahweh"): This is a particularly crucial link. Hilkiah was the High Priest who found the Book of the Law in the Temple during the reign of King Josiah (2 Ki 22). This discovery spurred a profound spiritual revival in Judah. Ezra's direct descent from this renowned high priest firmly anchors his authority in connection with the rediscovery and implementation of the Law. It highlights a divine heritage related to truth and covenant fidelity.
- Shallum: Another name in the priestly succession. While less prominently detailed, his inclusion solidifies the chain of the Zadokite line, connecting figures across generations.
- Zadok (Tsadôq - "righteous"): One of the most significant names in this genealogy. Zadok was a faithful priest during the reigns of David and Solomon (2 Sam 8:17, 1 Ki 2:35), chosen by God to serve exclusively as high priest over Abiathar (who was deposed). The line of Zadok was prophesied to serve forever (Eze 44:15-16). Ezra's direct descent from Zadok lends him impeccable high priestly credentials and theological weight, signifying a pure, righteous lineage approved by God.
- Ahitub: A common name among the early priestly lineage after Aaron (1 Sam 14:3). His presence reinforces the deep historical roots of Ezra's family tree back to the earliest high priests after Aaron.
Ezra 7 4 Bonus section
The explicit mention of Ezra's lineage from Hilkiah directly ties his mission to the historical precedent of renewed commitment to God's Word. Just as Hilkiah's discovery led to Josiah's extensive reforms centered on the rediscovered Law, Ezra, his direct descendant, was being sent to a community where the Law needed to be fully reinstated. This ancestral link suggests a divine continuity in the work of preserving and implementing God's covenant. The emphasis on the Zadokite line (as opposed to other priestly lines, some of which had fallen from favor) subtly but powerfully underlines the purity and integrity of Ezra's priesthood, signaling his divine legitimacy for the comprehensive spiritual renewal of his people. His authority as "a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses" (Ezra 7:6) is, therefore, not self-proclaimed but rooted in a sacred, generational trust ordained by God.
Ezra 7 4 Commentary
Ezra 7:4, though a simple list of names, carries profound significance by meticulously outlining Ezra's high priestly lineage. Its purpose is not merely biographical but theological and authoritative. By connecting Ezra directly to Hilkiah, who played a pivotal role in rediscovering the Law during Josiah's reform, and especially to Zadok, the faithful priest chosen by David and Solomon whose descendants were ordained by God for perpetual service, this verse validates Ezra's unparalleled spiritual authority. This authority was indispensable for his mission to restore the precise application of Mosaic Law and worship among the repatriated Jews. In a period craving re-establishment of divine order, Ezra's pure and prominent lineage, distinct from others whose priestly claims might have been corrupted, affirmed his mandate from God, making him the legitimate instrument for divine truth and covenant renewal. It served as a spiritual resume, indicating God's provident hand in raising him for this crucial task.