Ezra 8:4 kjv
Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
Ezra 8:4 nkjv
of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males;
Ezra 8:4 niv
of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
Ezra 8:4 esv
Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men.
Ezra 8:4 nlt
From the family of Pahath-moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and 200 other men.
Ezra 8 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 43:5-6 | "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east..." | Prophecy of return from exile, God's gathering. |
| Jer 29:10-14 | "For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon... I will restore your fortunes..." | God's promise to restore Israel after exile. |
| Ez 36:24 | "For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land." | Prophecy of physical return and national restoration. |
| Zech 8:7-8 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the country of the east and from the country of the west..." | God's worldwide gathering of His dispersed people. |
| Ezra 2:6 | "The sons of Pahath-moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve." | Shows this family's significant presence in the first return. |
| Neh 7:11 | "The sons of Pahath-moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen." | Re-listing Pahath-moab's numbers from the first return. |
| Ezra 7:9 | "For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia..." | Context of Ezra's journey to Jerusalem. |
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans... all in Israel who are able to go to war..." | Example of biblical census-taking, organized groups. |
| 1 Chr 6:6-7 | "and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth..." | Mentions Zerahiah as a priestly lineage, connecting to Ezra. |
| Gen 10:32 | "These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations..." | Biblical emphasis on genealogies and family lines. |
| Acts 7:29-30 | "And at this word Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian..." | Echoes of divine guidance for movements of people. |
| Rom 9:27 | "And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved.'" | Concept of the "remnant" choosing to follow God. |
| Ps 107:2-3 | "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands..." | God's redemptive gathering of His people. |
| Hag 1:12 | "Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel... and all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God..." | Highlights the obedience of the returning remnant. |
| Exo 18:21 | "Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate a bribe, and place such men over them as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens;" | Principles of organized leadership and delegation. |
| Ezra 2:61 | "From the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai..." | Importance of proper lineage for temple service. |
| Neh 11:1-2 | "Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem... the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten..." | Allocation and settlement of people after return. |
| 1 Chr 23:24 | "These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses, as they were listed by name, head by head..." | Meticulous family and census records. |
| Matt 1:1-17 | "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ..." | New Testament emphasis on genealogical records, demonstrating fulfillment. |
| Luke 3:23-38 | "Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph..." | Further genealogical record, showing divine order. |
| Num 26:5-51 | Comprehensive tribal census, detailing families and numbers. | Shows God's instruction for Israelite censuses and organization by families. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry..." | Reflects the biblical principle of appointed leaders for an organized community. |
| Ezra 10:18 | "Among the sons of the priests who had married foreign wives were found Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, of the sons of Jeshua..." | Demonstrates concern for purity of lineage post-exile. |
| Rev 7:4-9 | "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel." | Prophetic enumeration of God's future remnant, reflecting orderly divine work. |
Ezra 8 verses
Ezra 8 4 Meaning
Ezra 8:4 records the specific contribution of the family of Pahathmoab to the second return of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem under Ezra's leadership. It notes Elioenai, the son of Zerahiah, as the leader of this particular contingent, accompanied by two hundred men. This verse contributes to the meticulous genealogical record keeping of the returning remnant, vital for establishing legitimacy, land claims, and temple service. It highlights the organized and intentional nature of this significant movement of God's people.
Ezra 8 4 Context
Ezra chapter 8 details the specific individuals and families who accompanied Ezra from Babylonia to Jerusalem during the second return of exiles, approximately 80 years after the first return under Zerubbabel. This chapter serves as a census of this specific group, meticulously listing the heads of various paternal houses and the number of males (adult men) who came with them. Ezra’s primary mission was to bring the Law of God back to Jerusalem and re-establish proper worship and social order, in addition to bringing a significant contribution of silver and gold for the Temple. The immediate verses (Ezra 8:2-14) provide a roll call of these returning family units, showcasing the organized and purposeful nature of this journey back to their ancestral land, affirming their identity and role in the restoration of the community.
Ezra 8 4 Word analysis
Of the sons of Pahathmoab:
- Word-group Analysis: "Sons of" (בְּנֵי, b'nê) denotes male descendants or members of a particular family or clan, emphasizing lineage and tribal identity, which was crucial for land inheritance and religious roles in ancient Israel.
- Pahathmoab: (פַּחַת מוֹאָב, Paḥat Môʾāḇ). This is a tribal or family designation. "Pahath" means 'governor' or 'district'. While 'Moab' refers to the ancient kingdom east of the Dead Sea, this does not imply the family was Moabite by ethnicity. Rather, it likely refers to an ancestor named Pahath-Moab, perhaps a governor or official in that region during a period of Israelite control or influence, whose descendants became integrated into Israel. This family was notably large in the first return with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:6 listed 2,812 males from them). Their inclusion here underscores the ongoing, multi-generational nature of the return from exile.
Elioenai the son of Zerahiah,
- Elioenai: (אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי, ʾEliyoʿenai). This name means "My eyes are toward Yahweh" or "To Yahweh are my eyes." This significant Hebrew name indicates a declaration of trust and dependence on God by the parents who bestowed it. This person, as a leader, embodies this meaning, suggesting someone who sought divine guidance in the arduous task of leading his people back to the land.
- son of: Denotes direct paternal descent, reinforcing the family lineage and establishing Elioenai’s authority within the Pahathmoab family.
- Zerahiah: (זְרַחְיָה, Zeraḥyâ). Meaning "Yahweh has risen" or "Yahweh has appeared/shone." This name carries a strong theological meaning of divine revelation and intervention. It is also associated with priestly lineages in the Old Testament, such as a descendant of Aaron through Uzziah (1 Chr 6:6). This connection adds to the prominence and legitimate heritage of Elioenai and his family within the Israelite community.
and with him two hundred men.
- Word-group Analysis: "with him" emphasizes Elioenai's leadership and the contingent directly under his command. He was the designated head of this particular family unit.
- two hundred men: This refers to the count of adult, able-bodied males from this branch of the Pahathmoab family. This enumeration highlights the meticulous planning and accountability crucial for such a large and perilous journey. It provides a tangible measure of the collective effort and the human resource capacity contributing to the rebuilding of Judah and Jerusalem. This number also indicates that only a portion of the larger Pahathmoab family returned in this second wave, underscoring the remnant aspect of the returning exiles. The precise numbers for each family illustrate Ezra’s role as an accurate record-keeper and a capable organizer.
Ezra 8 4 Bonus section
The disproportionately smaller number of men from the Pahathmoab family in this second wave (200 men with Elioenai in Ezra 8:4 compared to 2,812 men in Ezra 2:6 from the first wave under Zerubbabel) offers an interesting insight. It suggests several possibilities:
- Limited Enthusiasm: Not every family, even prominent ones from the initial return, felt compelled or able to participate in the later exoduses. Many had likely established lives in Babylon over several decades.
- Partial Representation: Elioenai might have been leading only a specific branch or sub-family of the larger Pahathmoab clan, implying that other branches either remained in Babylon or had already returned with the first wave.
- Remnant Mentality: The entire Ezra-Nehemiah narrative is fundamentally about a dedicated remnant returning to God's land to rebuild. The smaller numbers, even from large clans, highlight the spiritual nature of this "call back" – not all would answer it.
- Focused Mission: Ezra’s immediate mission was more focused on religious and legal restoration than a mass resettlement, which might have attracted a different subset of people who were passionate about spiritual reform rather than simply land ownership.This detailed numerical record in Ezra's book serves as a historical document, validating the composition and leadership of the community that returned to reconstruct Jerusalem and its Temple, and re-institute the Mosaic Law, emphasizing a meticulously organized divine work.
Ezra 8 4 Commentary
Ezra 8:4 is a small but vital detail within a broader administrative and spiritual movement. It serves to identify a key leader, Elioenai from the substantial Pahathmoab clan, and quantify the men he brought on the hazardous journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. This verse underscores the biblical emphasis on genealogical purity, leadership, and numerical accountability. The specific naming of individuals like Elioenai ("My eyes are toward Yahweh") and his father Zerahiah ("Yahweh has shone") are not coincidental; they reflect names with significant spiritual meanings in a context where trust in God's providence was paramount for the perilous return journey. The inclusion of the exact number of men—two hundred—not only functions as an accurate census for record-keeping and logistical planning but also testifies to the dedication of a specific remnant, signifying that despite the challenges, God's people were committed to re-establishing themselves in the land and rebuilding the community of faith around His Temple and Law. It portrays an orderly, divine act of restoration guided by human leadership.