Lexical Summary Ezrachi: Ezrahite Original Word: אֶזְרָחִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ezrahite Patronymic from Chobab; an Ezrachite or descendant of Zerach -- Ezrahite. see HEBREW Chobab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zarach Definition a desc. of Zerah NASB Translation Ezrahite (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶזְרָחִי adjective, of a people i.e. of family of זֶרַח, only in ׳אֵיתָן הָא 1 Kings 5:11 (ᵐ5L Ἰσραηλίτης), Psalm 89:1 (ᵐ5 id.), and Psalm 88:1 ׳הֵימָן הָא both sons of זֶרַח (1 Chronicles 2:6). Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Literary Context The designation אֶזְרָחִי (Ezrahite) appears three times: 1 Kings 4:31, Psalm 88 (title), and Psalm 89 (title). In every case it functions as a descriptive epithet rather than a personal name, attaching to two individuals—Heman and Ethan—whose reputations mark decisive moments in Israel’s wisdom and worship literature. Identity of the Ezrahites Most interpreters link the term to the clan of Zerah, son of Judah (Genesis 38:30), making the Ezrahites Judahites by blood. This lineage places Heman and Ethan outside the Levitical line yet intimately involved in temple worship, illustrating the breadth of God’s gifting within the covenant community. Alternative proposals view the word as “native born,” but the genealogical reading best fits the specific personal designations and the Chronicler’s detailed family lists (1 Chronicles 2:6; 1 Chronicles 6:33-44, where Ethan is also called Jeduthun, possibly indicating two names for the same man). Wisdom Legacy and Comparison with Solomon 1 Kings 4:31 sets the benchmark for Solomon’s legendary wisdom: “He was wiser than any man, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol”. By naming Heman and Ethan first, the text implies they were widely recognized sages whose insight, songcraft, and mentoring shaped Israel’s intellectual climate before Solomon’s reign. Their inclusion demonstrates that robust wisdom traditions pre-dated the monarchy’s golden age and that Solomon’s gifts, though surpassing, did not arise in a vacuum. Worship Contribution in the Psalter Both Ezrahites are credited with psalms that occupy contrasting ends of the emotional spectrum: Placed together, these two compositions teach the faithful to bring both unfiltered sorrow and covenantal trust before the Lord, affirming that every facet of human experience has a proper voice in corporate worship. Theological Themes Heralded by Ezrahite Psalms 1. Covenant Faithfulness: Ethan extols the “everlasting covenant” with David (Psalm 89:3-4) even while questioning its present visibility, reinforcing the tension—and ultimate harmony—between promise and providence. Ministry Implications for Contemporary Believers • Engage the Full Emotional Register: The Ezrahite psalms legitimize lament alongside praise, encouraging modern worshipers to approach God with honest hearts rather than veneer. In sum, אֶזְרָחִי identifies a small cluster of Judahite sages whose literary and musical legacy strengthens the church’s theology of suffering, covenant, and worship, pointing ultimately to the greater Wisdom and faithful Covenant-Keeper revealed in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃ הָאֶזְרָחִ֗י הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃ האזרחי האזרחי׃ hā’ezrāḥî hā·’ez·rā·ḥî haezraChiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 4:31 HEB: הָֽאָדָם֒ מֵאֵיתָ֣ן הָאֶזְרָחִ֗י וְהֵימָ֧ן וְכַלְכֹּ֛ל NAS: than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol KJV: than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, INT: men Ethan the Ezrahite Heman Calcol Psalm 88:1 Psalm 89:1 3 Occurrences |
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