Lexical Summary Chezir: Chezir Original Word: חֵזִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hezir From the same as chaziyr; perhaps protected; Chezir, the name of two Israelites -- Hezir. see HEBREW chaziyr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as chazir Definition two Isr. NASB Translation Hezir (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֵזִיר proper name, masculine (compare inscription in RA1867, plural 7, DrSm xxiii; NöZMG 1886, 162 'pointing — ֵ֯ to avoid offence;' but NbrAcad. 1887, Dec. 17 compare Talmud & ᵑ7 (חַזּוּרָא, חֵיזוּר, חֲזוּרָא etc.) pomegranate (and apple; Syriac  ,  ), compare בְּנֵי רִמּוֺן 2 Samuel 4:2,5,9) — 1 a priest of 17th course (assigned to David's time) 1 Chronicles 24:15; ᵐ5 Χηξειν (16th, 1 Chronicles 24:14), but A Ιεξειρ, ᵐ5L Χηξειρ. 2 one of those sealed Nehemiah 10:21; ᵐ5 Ηξειρ, ᵐ5L Αξηρ. Topical Lexicon Historical Setting Hezir appears twice in the Old Testament record, both times within priestly contexts (1 Chronicles 24:15; Nehemiah 10:20). The name identifies a father of a priestly house rather than a single individual acting in narrative. Through these two mentions Scripture traces the line from the united-monarchy reforms of David to the post-exilic restoration under Nehemiah, underscoring divine faithfulness to the Aaronic covenant across centuries and national crises. The House of Hezir among David’s Twenty-Four Courses David, guided by the prophetic insight of Samuel and abiding by Mosaic legislation (Numbers 3:5-10), organized the sons of Aaron into twenty-four courses to regulate Temple service (1 Chronicles 24:1-19). The lot for the seventeenth course fell to Hezir: “the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez” (1 Chronicles 24:15). Each course served eight days (inclusive of Sabbaths) twice annually and during the three pilgrimage feasts (2 Chronicles 8:12-14), ensuring orderly, uninterrupted worship. Inclusion in this rotation attests that the family of Hezir met genealogical and ritual qualifications and shared equally in sacrificial duties, blessing the nation (Numbers 6:22-27). A Covenant Signatory in Nehemiah’s Renewal More than four centuries later, priests of the same house affixed their seals to Nehemiah’s covenant of loyalty to the Law: “Hezir, Meshezabel” (Nehemiah 10:20). The appearance of the name at this pivotal moment demonstrates continuity of priestly responsibility following exile. By pledging allegiance to Sabbath sanctity, marital faithfulness, and Temple support (Nehemiah 10:30-39), the sons of Hezir stood in solidarity with reform that preserved distinct covenant identity amid Persian rule. Archaeological Echoes A rock-cut monument known as the “Tomb of the Bene Hezir” still overlooks the Kidron Valley. While its inscriptions date to the Hasmonean era, they testify that the house of Hezir retained stature into the Second Temple period. Such evidence corroborates the biblical portrait of a priestly line preserved through successive generations. Theological and Ministry Significance • Continuity of Servanthood: From David’s orderly worship to Nehemiah’s covenant renewal, Hezir represents the enduring call to priestly faithfulness despite political upheaval. Key References 1 Chronicles 24:15; Nehemiah 10:20 Forms and Transliterations חֵזִֽיר׃ חזיר׃ לְחֵזִיר֙ לחזיר cheZir ḥê·zîr ḥêzîr lə·ḥê·zîr lecheZir ləḥêzîrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 24:15 HEB: לְחֵזִיר֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר NAS: the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth KJV: The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth INT: Hezir seven teen Nehemiah 10:20 2 Occurrences |
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