Lexical Summary Zerubbabel: Zerubbabel Original Word: זְרֻבָּבֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zerubbabel From zarab and Babel; descended of (i.e. From) Babylon, i.e. Born there; Zerubbabel, an Israelite -- Zerubbabel. see HEBREW zarab see HEBREW Babel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps from zarab and Babel Definition "begotten in Babylon," a leader of returning Isr. exiles NASB Translation Zerubbabel (21). Brown-Driver-Briggs זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל proper name, masculine (according to MV perhaps = זְרוּעַ בָּבֶל begotten in Babylon, see also Thes) **probably = Babylonian Zêr-Bâbili = off-spring of Babylon, often in Inscriptions (MeyE. Jud. v). — grandson of king Jehoiachin, and son of Pedaiah 1 Chronicles 3:19 (twice in verse) (but son of Shealtiel Ezra 3:2,8 etc., compare שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל brother (?) of מְּדָיָה 1 Chronicles 3:17); leader of first returning exiles Ezra 2:2 = Nehemiah 7:7; Ezra 3:2,8; Ezra 4:2,3; Nehemiah 12:1,47; Haggai 1:12; Haggai 2:4; Zechariah 4:6,7,9,10; called מַּחַת יְהוּדָה Haggai 1:1,14; Haggai 2:2,21, called עַבְדִּי (by ׳י) Haggai 2:23. — ᵐ5 Ζοροβαβελ. זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל noun [masculine] (Biblical Hebrew id.); — Ezra 5:2. Topical Lexicon Name and Lineage Zerubbabel, whose name means “seed of Babylon” or “offspring of Babylon,” was a post-exilic descendant of King David through Jeconiah (Coniah). 1 Chronicles 3:17-19 traces him as the son of Pedaiah, while Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah style him “son of Shealtiel,” a designation that probably reflects legal succession under levirate custom. Thus, Zerubbabel connects the line of Solomon (legal) and Nathan (blood, through Pedaiah) and ultimately appears in the genealogies of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27), preserving the Davidic hope after the exile. Leader of the First Return (538 B.C.) Cyrus the Great authorized the first wave of Judean returnees. Ezra 2:2 lists “Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai…” at the head of those who came up from captivity. As civil governor, Zerubbabel partnered with the high priest Jeshua to re-establish sacrificial worship: “Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel” (Ezra 3:2). This act re-centred the community on covenantal worship before walls or temple foundation were in place. Governor of Judah under Persian Oversight Haggai 1:1 identifies him as “governor of Judah,” a title also echoed in Haggai 2:21. He functioned as vice-regent under Persian authority, charged with civil administration, redistribution of returned temple vessels, and allocation of imperial funds for reconstruction (Ezra 6:8-10). Though limited politically, his Davidic heritage gave the people a tangible link to pre-exilic sovereignty. Rebuilder of the Second Temple Work on the temple foundation began in the second year after the return (Ezra 3:8). Opposition from local adversaries halted the effort (Ezra 4:2-5), but prophetic exhortations revived it sixteen years later. Haggai and Zechariah specifically named Zerubbabel, calling him to finish what he had begun: The temple was completed in 516 B.C. under Darius I, validating these words and restoring formal worship. Prophetic Significance 1. Instrument of the Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 anchors Zerubbabel’s success in divine empowerment: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.” The accompanying vision of the golden lampstand and olive trees pictures an unceasing supply of the Spirit for kingdom work. Messianic Foreshadowings Although Zerubbabel himself never assumed royal status, the prophetic language concerning him arches forward to Jesus Christ: Worship and Community Reform Nehemiah 12:47 recalls that “In the days of Zerubbabel… all Israel contributed daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers,” indicating revived liturgical life. His governance set a precedent of faithful stewardship, corporate tithing, and orderly service that later generations emulated. Notable References 1 Chronicles 3:19; Ezra 2:2; Ezra 3:2, 8; Ezra 4:2-3; Nehemiah 7:7; Nehemiah 12:1, 47; Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; Haggai 2:2, 4, 21, 23; Zechariah 4:6-10. Theological Lessons • God preserves His redemptive line even in exile. Summary Zerubbabel stands as the divinely appointed governor who led the first return, laid and completed the Second Temple foundation, embodied renewed Davidic hope, and modeled reliance on the Spirit amid daunting opposition. Forms and Transliterations וּזְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל וזרבבל זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל ׀ זְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל זְרֻבָּבֶ֨ל זְרֻבָּבֶל֙ זרבבל ū·zə·rub·bā·ḇel ūzərubbāḇel uzerubbaVel zə·rub·bā·ḇel zərubbāḇel zerubbaVelLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 3:19 HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י פְדָיָ֔ה זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל וְשִׁמְעִ֑י וּבֶן־ NAS: of Pedaiah [were] Zerubbabel and Shimei. KJV: of Pedaiah [were], Zerubbabel, and Shimei: INT: the sons of Pedaiah Zerubbabel and Shimei and the sons 1 Chronicles 3:19 Ezra 2:2 Ezra 3:2 Ezra 3:8 Ezra 4:2 Ezra 4:3 Nehemiah 7:7 Nehemiah 12:1 Nehemiah 12:47 Haggai 1:1 Haggai 1:12 Haggai 1:14 Haggai 2:2 Haggai 2:4 Haggai 2:21 Haggai 2:23 Zechariah 4:6 Zechariah 4:7 Zechariah 4:9 Zechariah 4:10 21 Occurrences |
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