Lexical Summary Gazzam: Gazzam Original Word: גַּזָּם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gazzam From the same as gazam; devourer -- Gazzam, one of the Nethinim -- Gazzam. see HEBREW gazam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as gazam Definition "devourer," an Isr. NASB Translation Gazzam (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs גַּזָּם proper name, masculine head of a family of returned exiles ׳בְּנֵי ג Ezra 2:48 = Nehemiah 7:51. גזע (√ of following, compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Name and Identity Gazzam designates a family line counted among the Nethinim, the hereditary temple servants who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. While the etymology suggests “to cut off” or “to devour,” Scripture’s concern is not linguistic precision but the family’s place in the covenant community. Biblical Occurrences • Ezra 2:48 lists “the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam”. Post-Exilic Setting Both occurrences lie inside the great restoration narrative that begins with Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 1) and culminates in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 6) and the renewal of the covenant (Nehemiah 8–10). The two lists are near-identical, recorded decades apart—Ezra during the early return (ca. 538 BC) and Nehemiah after the walls were finished (ca. 445 BC)—underscoring continuity of God’s preserved remnant. Function among the Temple Servants (Nethinim) The Nethinim descended from non-Israelite groups set apart “for the service of the Levites” (Ezra 8:20). Their duties likely included water drawing, wood carrying, gate supervision, and other practical maintenance of worship. By naming Gazzam’s descendants, Scripture reminds readers that humble service is indispensable to corporate devotion. They shared in the 392 Nethinim counted in Ezra 2:58, a number echoed in Nehemiah 7:60, showing faithful consistency over nearly a century. Genealogical Integrity and Worship Post-exilic leaders guarded lineage records to protect doctrinal purity and priestly legitimacy (Ezra 2:62). Gazzam’s documented ancestry demonstrates that even support personnel were vetted, illustrating Israel’s seriousness about holiness “from the least of them to the greatest” (Jeremiah 31:34). Their verified status allowed them to participate fully in worship at the newly built Second Temple. Ministry Lessons and Theological Reflections 1. God values every servant. Though unnamed individuals within Gazzam’s line occupy no narrative scenes, they are permanently etched in Scripture, affirming Hebrews 6:10 that “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work.” Related Old Testament Passages • Ezra 8:17-20 – supplemental recruitment of Nethinim for temple service. Forms and Transliterations גַזָּ֥ם גַזָּֽם׃ גזם גזם׃ ḡaz·zām gazZam ḡazzāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:48 HEB: נְקוֹדָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י גַזָּֽם׃ NAS: of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, KJV: of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, INT: of Nekoda the sons of Gazzam Nehemiah 7:51 2 Occurrences |
    |
cut off, & Ethiopic 
saw in two).