Lexical Summary Barqos: Barqos Original Word: בַּרְקוֹס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Barkos Of uncertain derivation; Barkos, one of the Nethimim -- Barkos. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition one of the Nethinim NASB Translation Barkos (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בַּרְקוֺס proper name, masculine (√ & meaning unknown; Babylonian Bar‡ûsu DlPr 212) head of a family of Nethinim, ׳בניבֿ Ezra 2:53 = Nehemiah 7:55. Topical Lexicon Name and Basic Identification Barkos is recorded as the forefather of a family counted among the Nethinim, the hereditary temple servants who assisted the Levites in tasks connected with worship. His descendants are twice enumerated in the post-exilic registers (Ezra 2:53; Nehemiah 7:55). Biblical Occurrences Ezra 2:53 lists “the sons of Barkos” among those who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel: “the sons of Barkos, one hundred and twelve”. The parallel census in Nehemiah 7:55 repeats the name and number. The duplication underlines the reliability of the historical record while also highlighting Barkos’s enduring house within the covenant community. Historical Background The Nethinim trace their origin to the Gibeonites who were conscripted by Joshua as “hewers of wood and drawers of water” for the altar of the Lord (Joshua 9:27). Over centuries this status developed into a recognized class attached to the temple. Though not Levites, they occupied a privileged place in Jerusalem’s religious life and were protected by specific living quarters near the temple precincts (Nehemiah 3:26). Role Among the Nethinim 1. Support for Sacred Worship: The Nethinim facilitated the continual offerings that pointed Israel to redemption, ensuring firewood, water, and basic maintenance. Return from Exile and Covenant Renewal The precise numbering of Barkos’s descendants (one hundred and twelve) illustrates the readiness of entire households to leave Babylonian security for the hardships of rebuilding Jerusalem. Their presence in the register assured eligibility to share in temple duties once worship was restored (Ezra 3:8-9). Later, Nehemiah reaffirmed their status in his reforms, integrating them into the covenant oath of obedience (Nehemiah 10:28-29). Theological Themes • Covenant Fidelity: Barkos’s family exemplifies God’s commitment to preserve even the lesser-known servants of His house through judgment and restoration. Lessons for Present-Day Believers • Record-Keeping Matters: Accurate genealogies in Ezra-Nehemiah encourage transparency and accountability in church membership and leadership today. Forms and Transliterations בַרְק֥וֹס ברקוס ḇar·qō·ws ḇarqōws varKosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:53 HEB: בְּנֵי־ בַרְק֥וֹס בְּֽנֵי־ סִֽיסְרָ֖א NAS: the sons of Barkos, the sons KJV: The children of Barkos, the children INT: the sons of Barkos the sons of Sisera Nehemiah 7:55 2 Occurrences |
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