Lexical Summary Yosiphyah: Yosiphiah Original Word: יוֹסִפְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Josiphiah From active participle of yacaph and Yahh; Jah (is) adding; Josiphjah, an Israelite -- Josiphiah. see HEBREW yacaph see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom active participle of yasaph and from Yah Definition "Yah adds," an Isr. NASB Translation Josiphiah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יוֺסִפְיָה proper name, masculine (׳י adds ) — father of one of Ezra's companions Ezra 8:10. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Ezra 8:10 records the name: “of the descendants of Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty men”. This single reference situates Josiphiah two generations before the exiles named in the list, identifying him as the father of Shelomith and the ancestral head of a family that contributed a sizable company to Ezra’s caravan. Historical Background Ezra’s second return from Babylon (circa 458 BC) came under the favor of Artaxerxes I and was aimed at strengthening temple worship and covenant obedience in Jerusalem. The list in Ezra 8 serves the dual purpose of recording those who accepted the call to leave the comparative comfort of Persia and of demonstrating the continuity of the covenant community. In this setting Josiphiah stands as one of the pre-exilic fathers whose household lineage is still intact after decades in captivity, underscoring the preserving hand of God over Israel’s families. Genealogical Setting The formula “sons of Shelomith, son of Josiphiah” follows a common pattern of listing a living leader by the name of his more prominent or better-known father or grandfather. Although Josiphiah himself is not said to have traveled with Ezra, his name anchors the family historically. The presence of 160 male relatives suggests a well-established clan, likely including women and children not counted in the tally, emphasizing both numerical strength and covenant fidelity. Such genealogical notices mirror the extensive records in 1 Chronicles and prepare the ground for later listings in Nehemiah 7, reinforcing the legitimacy of land allotments, temple service, and Levitical roles. Role in the Return with Ezra The families led by Shelomith, rooted in Josiphiah’s household, left the economic stability of Babylon to face the hardships of pilgrimage. Their sizeable delegation signals strong leadership and shared conviction—qualities indispensable for reviving worship in a ruined city. By identifying the patriarch, Ezra celebrates the generational faithfulness that produced men willing to respond to God’s summons, thereby encouraging other families to emulate their example. Spiritual and Ministry Significance 1. Preservation of Identity: Josiphiah’s name functions as a testament that exile did not erase Israel’s lineage. God’s promises to Abraham require identifiable descendants; the mention of lesser-known fathers like Josiphiah validates that promise in real families. Connections to Broader Scriptural Themes • Genealogical Faithfulness – Numbers 1; 1 Chronicles 1–9; Matthew 1; Luke 3 Lessons for Today • Quiet lives of faithfulness underpin public acts of revival; anonymous fathers like Josiphiah matter. Forms and Transliterations יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה יוספיה yō·w·sip̄·yāh yosifYah yōwsip̄yāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 8:10 HEB: שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית בֶּן־ יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֕וֹ מֵאָ֥ה NAS: the son of Josiphiah and 160 KJV: the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred INT: of Shelomith the son of Josiphiah with an hundred 1 Occurrence |
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