What is the meaning of Ezra 2:5?

The descendants

– Ezra 2 catalogs real families returning from Babylon, underscoring God’s faithfulness to actual bloodlines.

– Scripture consistently values lineage: “These are the heads of their fathers’ houses” (Ezra 1:5); “All Israel was enrolled by genealogies” (1 Chronicles 9:1).

– By using the everyday word “descendants,” the verse reminds us that covenant promises flow through generations (Genesis 17:7; Acts 2:39).

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of Arah

– Arah’s house appears again in Nehemiah 7:10 and in later reforms (Ezra 10:31), proving it was a known, traceable clan.

– Though Scripture gives no heroic exploits for Arah, listing his name highlights how every family—famous or obscure—matters to God (1 Corinthians 12:22).

– Their willingness to leave exile echoes Abraham’s obedience to step out in faith (Hebrews 11:8).

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775

– The specific total shows that God tracks people individually, not merely in crowds (Luke 12:7).

– Accurate numbers verify the historical reliability of the return; Nehemiah 7:10 records the same figure, confirming the text’s precision.

– The size suggests a sizeable clan, able to contribute meaningfully to rebuilding Jerusalem’s population and workforce (Ezra 3:8–9).

– Each counted member represents a testimony that “not one word has failed of all His good promise” (1 Kings 8:56).

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summary

Ezra 2:5 is a compact but powerful statement: God preserved 775 descendants from the family of Arah and brought them home. Every word—“descendants,” the name “Arah,” and the exact number—underscores His faithful, detailed care for His people and His unbroken commitment to fulfill covenant promises across generations.