Lexical Summary Meshezabel: Meshezabel Original Word: מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Meshezabeel From an equiv. To shzab and 'el; delivered of God; Meshezabel, an Israelite -- Meshezabeel. see HEBREW shzab see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an equiv. of shezab and from el Definition "God delivers," an Isr. name NASB Translation Meshezabel (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵל proper name, masculine Jewish name in Persian period (God delivers; from Aramaic שֵׁיזֵיב,  deliver, Assyrian šûzubu, Shaph`el from ezêbu, deliver, DlHWB 35; compare the Babylonian names Mušizib-Marduk, 'Marduk delivers,' Mušizib-ílu, KBii. 281, iv. 129): — grandfather of one of the wall-builders Nehemiah 3:4; one of those sealed Nehemiah 10:22; father of royal officer (a Judaean) Nehemiah 11:24; the relation of these to each other is unknown; ᵐ5 Μασεζεβηα, Μεσωζεβηλ, ᵐ5L Μασσιζαβελ, etc. Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Meshezabel appears three times in the post-exilic record of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 10:21; Nehemiah 11:24). In each setting he or his descendants are linked to the rebuilding, covenant renewal and governmental administration of Jerusalem after the exile. Historical Context The books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe the return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple and walls, and the re-establishment of covenant life under Persian rule. Names preserved in these chapters are more than registries; they serve as testimonies that God preserved a faithful remnant, in line with His promises to Abraham, Moses and David. Meshezabel’s inclusion in three distinct lists demonstrates the continuity of a single family’s service across several decades of restoration work. Genealogical and Ministerial Significance 1. Rebuilding the Wall: Nehemiah 3:4 records, “Next to them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs.” The wall project was divided among families; Meshezabel’s grandson Meshullam rebuilt a strategic section near the Fish Gate. The mention of the grandfather underlines the heritage of faith and responsibility flowing through the generations. 2. Covenant Renewal: In the sealing of the renewed covenant (Nehemiah 10:21), Meshezabel’s family appears among the signatories. This underscores their public alignment with the Law of Moses at a critical juncture when intermarriage, Sabbath neglect and debt exploitation threatened Israel’s distinct identity. 3. Royal Liaison: Nehemiah 11:24 highlights a later descendant, Pethahiah, who functioned as liaison to the Persian king: “Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, represented the people before the king concerning all matters”. This role demanded both fidelity to Judah and credibility before the imperial court, illustrating how God raised trusted servants within foreign structures for His people’s welfare (compare Daniel 6; Esther 10:3). Theological Insights The name Meshezabel likely means “God rescues” or “Whom God delivers.” His family narrative embodies that meaning: • Deliverance from Exile: The lineage survived deportation and returned, demonstrating Yahweh’s faithfulness to rescue His covenant people (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Application for the Contemporary Church 1. Heritage of Service: Spiritual legacy matters. Families, congregations and ministries should cultivate generational faithfulness so that the works of parents inspire the obedience of children. Meshezabel’s brief appearances therefore encourage steadfast, intergenerational, covenantal service grounded in the God who rescues. Forms and Transliterations מְשֵֽׁיזַבְאֵ֜ל מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵ֑ל מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵ֥ל משיזבאל mə·šê·zaḇ·’êl məšêzaḇ’êl mesheizavElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 3:4 HEB: בֶּרֶכְיָ֖ה בֶּן־ מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵ֑ל ס וְעַל־ NAS: the son of Meshezabel made repairs. KJV: the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them INT: of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel and Next Nehemiah 10:21 Nehemiah 11:24 3 Occurrences |
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