Ezra 2:4
Ezra 2:4 in Multiple Translations
the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two.
the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
The sonnes of Shephatiah, three hundreth, seuentie and two:
Sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
The children of Sephatia, three hundred seventy-two.
372descendants of Shephatiah
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezra 2:4
BAB
Word Study
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Ezra 2:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּנֵ֣י
שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה
שְׁלֹ֥שׁ
מֵא֖וֹת
שִׁבְעִ֥ים
וּ/שְׁנָֽיִם
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה
Shᵉphaṭyâh
H8203
Shephatiah
N-proper
שְׁלֹ֥שׁ
shâlôwsh
H7969
three
Adj
מֵא֖וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
שִׁבְעִ֥ים
shibʻîym
H7657
seventy
Adj
וּ/שְׁנָֽיִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
two
Conj | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezra 2:4
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה
Shᵉphaṭyâh
H8203
"Shephatiah"
N-proper
Shephatiah was the name of ten Israelites, including a son of David and several leaders who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. The name means 'Jehovah has judged', and these individuals are mentioned in books like 1 Chronicles and Jeremiah. They played significant roles in Israel's history.
Definition: A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Jer.38.1; son of: Mattan (H4977H) § Shephatiah = "Jehovah has judged" 1) a son of David by Abital; David's 5th son 2) head of a family of exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel 3) another head of a family of exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel 4) a Judaite, son of Mahalaleel and father of Amariah 5) a prince of Judah, son of Mattan and one of the counsellors who advised king Zedekiah of Judah to kill the prophet Jeremiah 6) the Haruphite, one of David's mighty warriors who joined him at Ziklag 7) son of Maachah and prince of the tribe of Simeon in the time of David 8) son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to his successor Jehoram
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: Shephatiah. See also: 2 Samuel 3:4; Ezra 2:4; Jeremiah 38:1.
שְׁלֹ֥שׁ
shâlôwsh
H7969
"three"
Adj
This Hebrew word means three or thrice, and is used to describe quantities or repetitions in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including three, third, and thirteen.
Definition: 1) three, triad 1a) 3, 300, third Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
Usage: Occurs in 381 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare H7991 (שָׁלִישׁ). See also: Genesis 5:22; Joshua 1:11; 2 Kings 9:32.
מֵא֖וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
"hundred"
Adj
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) hundred 1a) as simple number 1b) as part of larger number 1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100) Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. See also: Genesis 5:3; Numbers 2:6; Judges 18:17.
שִׁבְעִ֥ים
shibʻîym
H7657
"seventy"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the number seventy, like the seventy disciples Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. It appears in phrases like threescore and ten. The KJV Bible uses it to describe groups of seventy people.
Definition: seventy
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). See also: Genesis 4:24; Judges 9:2; Psalms 90:10.
וּ/שְׁנָֽיִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
"two"
Conj | Adj
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
Study Notes — Ezra 2:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The List of Returning Exiles
2accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:
3the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;
4the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
5the descendants of Arah, 775; 6the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nehemiah 7:9 | the descendants of Shephatiah, 372; |
| 2 | Ezra 8:8 | from the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men; |
Ezra 2:4 Summary
Ezra 2:4 tells us that 372 descendants of Shephatiah returned to Jerusalem, showing us that God cares about families and individuals. Just like God kept track of the people returning to Jerusalem, He also knows and cares about each of us, as Jesus taught in Luke 12:7. This verse reminds us that God is faithful and keeps His promises, just as He promised to restore His people, as seen in Jeremiah 31:31-34. As we reflect on this verse, we can be encouraged by God's love and faithfulness in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the number 372 in Ezra 2:4?
The number 372 represents the descendants of Shephatiah who returned to Jerusalem, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant of His people, as promised in Deuteronomy 30:3 and Jeremiah 29:14.
Who was Shephatiah and why is his family mentioned in Ezra 2:4?
Shephatiah is likely a family leader or patriarch, and his descendants are listed among the returned exiles, emphasizing the importance of family and genealogy in the biblical narrative, as seen in 1 Chronicles 4:1-43.
How does Ezra 2:4 relate to the larger story of Israel's restoration?
This verse is part of a larger list of returned exiles, demonstrating God's fulfillment of His promise to restore Israel, as prophesied in Ezekiel 37:21-22 and Isaiah 11:11-12.
What can we learn from the specific numbers of people returning to Jerusalem in Ezra 2?
The detailed count of returning exiles, including the 372 descendants of Shephatiah, underscores God's attention to detail and care for His people, as seen in Matthew 10:30, where Jesus says that even the hairs on our head are numbered.
Reflection Questions
- What does the specific mention of Shephatiah's descendants in Ezra 2:4 reveal about God's heart for families and individuals?
- How can I apply the principle of God's faithfulness, as seen in the return of the exiles, to my own life and circumstances?
- In what ways can I, like the returned exiles, participate in God's work of restoring and rebuilding His people, as encouraged in Nehemiah 2:17-18?
- What does the preservation of Shephatiah's family line, despite the challenges of exile, teach me about God's power to sustain and protect His people?
Gill's Exposition on Ezra 2:4
[See comments on Ezra 2:3].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezra 2:4
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. The children of Shephatiah - [Septuagint, Safatia]. In addition to this first band of 372 (cf. Nehemiah 7:9), a second detachment of 80 males accompanied Ezra .
Cambridge Bible on Ezra 2:4
3–19. Names of households or families. Many of these names occur again in other lists, e.g. Ezra 8:1-14; Ezra 10:18-44; Nehemiah 10:1-27, and in connexion with much later events in the lifetime of Ezra and Nehemiah. These names therefore are not to be regarded as the names of the leading men of the various families who accompanied Zerubbabel, but as the titles of the families or clans into which the people were divided. These titles were probably taken from the founders of the families and were many of them of great antiquity. The mention of the same names of the ‘families’ at the return of Ezra (Ezra 8:1-14) merely shows that, though a certain number of a household had accompanied Zerubbabel, many members of it remained in Babylon, of whom some returned with Ezra, e.g. Parosh, Pahath-moab, Adin, Shephatiah, Elam, Bebai, Azgad, Adonikam, Bigvai, &c., cf. Nehemiah 10:14 ff.