Hebrew Word Reference — Ezra 7:3
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.
Amariah was the name of several Israelites, including a head priest's son and a chief priest under King Jehoshaphat. His name means Jehovah speaks or Yah has promised.
Definition: A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Zep.1.1; son of: Hezekiah (H2396K); father of: Gedaliah (H1436H) § Amariah = "Jehovah speaks" or "Yah(u) has promised" 1) Zadok's grandfather 2) a head priest's son in Solomon's time 3) a chief priest under Jehoshaphat 4) Hezekiah's son, great-grandfather of Zephaniah 5) a Levite in Ezra's time 6) a Levite under Hezekiah 7) a priest in Nehemiah's time
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: Amariah. See also: 1 Chronicles 5:33; Ezra 7:3; Zephaniah 1:1.
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.
Azariah was the name of nineteen different Israelites, including a king of Judah and a friend of Daniel who was renamed Abednego by King Nebuchadnezzar. His name means Jehovah has helped.
Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Abednego at Dan.2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; § Azariah = "Jehovah has helped" 1) son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also 'Uzziah' 2) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord 2a) also, 'Abednego' (H5664 or H5665) 3) son of Nathan and an officer of Solomon; perhaps David's grandson and Solomon's nephew 4) a prophet in the days of king Asa of Judah 5) son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to 5 6) another son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to 4 7) a priest, son of Ahimaaz, grandson of Zadok and high priest in the reign of king Solomon 8) the high priest in the reign of king Uzziah of Judah 9) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah; probably same as 18 10) a Kohathite Levite, father of Joel in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah 11) a Merarite Levite, son of Jehalelel in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah 12) a Kohathite Levite, son of Zephaniah and ancestor of Samuel the prophet 13) a Levite who helped Ezra in instructing the people in the law 14) son of Jeroham and one of the temple captains of Judah in the time of queen Athaliah; probably the same as 21 15) son of Maaseiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah 16) one of the leaders who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel 17) a man who assisted in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah; probably the same as 10 18) son of Johanan, one of the captains of Ephraim in the reign of king Ahaz of Judah 19) a Judaite, son of Ethan of the sons of Zerah 20) a Judaite, son of Jehu of the family of the Jerahmeelites and descended from Jarha the Egyptian slave of Sheshan; probably one of the captains of the time of queen Athaliah and the same as 15 21) a priest, son of Hilkiah 22) a priest, son of Johanan 23) son of king Jehoram of Judah; probably clerical error for 'Ahaziah' 24) son of Meraioth 25) son of Hoshaiah and one of the proud men who confronted Jeremiah
Usage: Occurs in 44 OT verses. KJV: Azariah. See also: 1 Kings 4:2; 2 Chronicles 21:2; Jeremiah 43:2.
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.
Meraioth means rebellious and refers to two Israelites, one the grandfather of Ahitub and another the son of Ahitub and father of Zadok. Both are descendants of Eleazar, son of Aaron. Meraioth is also an alternate name for Meremoth. They lived during the time of Exile and Return.
Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.33; son of: Uriah (H0223H); also called Meraioth at Neh.12.15; Another name of me.re.mot (מְרֵמוֹת "Meremoth" H4822G) § Meraioth = "rebellious" 1) grandfather of Ahitub, descendant of Eleazar the son of Aaron, and the head of a priestly house 2) son of Ahitub, father of Zadok, descendant of Eleazar the son of Aaron, and the head of a priestly house 3) head of a family of priests represented by Helkai in the time of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: Meraioth. See also: 1 Chronicles 5:32; 1 Chronicles 9:11; Nehemiah 12:15.
Context — Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem
1Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
Ezra 7:3 Summary
This verse is about Ezra's family tree, showing that he comes from a long line of priests, all the way back to Aaron, who was the first high priest of the Israelites, as seen in Exodus 4:14. It's like a spiritual pedigree, highlighting Ezra's qualifications to lead and teach God's people, similar to how Jesus' genealogy is important in Matthew 1:1-17. Just like how a family tree can give us a sense of identity and belonging, Ezra's genealogy reminds us of our own spiritual heritage and the importance of honoring those who have come before us, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:9-10. By knowing where we come from, we can better understand our purpose and role in God's big story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ezra's genealogy important in this verse?
Ezra's genealogy is important because it establishes his priestly lineage, tracing back to Aaron the chief priest, as seen in Ezra 7:5 and Exodus 4:14. This lineage is crucial for his role in leading the Israelites and teaching them God's laws.
What can we learn from the listing of Ezra's ancestors in this verse?
The listing of Ezra's ancestors teaches us about the importance of heritage and legacy, as seen in Psalm 16:6 and Genesis 17:5. It also highlights God's faithfulness in preserving the priestly line, as promised in Numbers 25:13.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the book of Ezra?
This verse relates to the overall theme of the book of Ezra by introducing Ezra as a key figure in the restoration of Israel, emphasizing his qualifications as a priest and a teacher, as seen in Ezra 7:10 and Nehemiah 8:1-8.
What does this verse reveal about God's plan for the Israelites?
This verse reveals that God is concerned with the details of His people's lives, including their leadership and heritage, as seen in Romans 11:2 and Jeremiah 31:35-37. It also shows that God is faithful to His promises, even in the midst of exile and restoration.
Reflection Questions
- What does my own family heritage reveal about God's faithfulness in my life?
- How can I, like Ezra, be mindful of my spiritual lineage and the legacy I will leave for future generations?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of preserving and honoring my family's spiritual history?
- In what ways can I, like Ezra, be a faithful steward of the spiritual heritage that has been passed down to me?
Gill's Exposition on Ezra 7:3
[See comments on Ezra 7:1].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezra 7:3
The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezra 7:3
Ezra 7:3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,Ver. 3. The son of Meraioth] Here is a great leap: six of Ezra’ s ancestors (likely for brevity sake) being overskipped.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezra 7:3
II.—THE SECOND RETURN UNDER EZRA. VII.(1-10) A. general summary of Ezra’s expedition under Divine guidance.
Cambridge Bible on Ezra 7:3
Ch. Ezra 7:1-10. A brief Summary of Events1–5. Ezra’s GenealogyNow after these things] An interval of 58 years is passed over in silence (516–458). One allusion has already been made to the reign of Xerxes (ch. Ezra 4:6). But with this exception the Compiler apparently found nothing to record of historic importance in the formation of the new religious community at Jerusalem during the period which elapsed between the completion of the Temple and the accession of Artaxerxes. The story of Esther belongs to Xerxes’ reign, which belongs to the chronicles of ‘the Dispersion’. It has no part in the development of the Jewish constitution. ‘Now after these things’. A not infrequent phrase combining connexion (‘now’ or ‘and’) with the previous narrative and statement of indefinite interval.
Cf. Genesis 15:1; Genesis 22:1; Luke 10:1. in the reign of Artaxerxes] Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes began to reign in 465 b.c. Ezra, the son of Seraiah &c.] Ezra’s genealogy is here traced back to Aaron. (a) His immediate connexion with the high-priestly line is through Seraiah. He is therefore here called ‘the son of Seraiah’, although Seraiah was High-priest in the days of king Zedekiah and was slain at Riblah by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:18-21) in 588 b.c. (i.e. 130 years before). Inasmuch as (1) the High-priest Jeshua (538) is described as the son of Jehozadak, (2) neither of these names occurs in Ezra’s genealogy, (3) Jehozadak was the eldest son of Seraiah (1 Chronicles 6:14) succeeding to the High-priesthood, we conclude that Ezra was descended from a younger son of Seraiah. (b) In this genealogy 15 names occur between Ezra and Aaron. This is manifestly too small a number for a period of about 1000 years (reckoning 30 years to a generation), especially when we find 26 names recorded between Zerubbabel (who was of the previous generation to that of Ezra) and Nashon, prince of Judah, the contemporary of Aaron, in 1 Chronicles 2:10-15; 1 Chronicles 3:1-19. Ezra’s genealogy therefore appears here in an abbreviated form.
We are enabled in a great measure, if not completely, to fill up its lacunæ by means of (a) Ezra’s genealogy in the parallel passage, 1Es 8:1-2, (b) in 2Es 1:1-3, (c) the genealogy of the High-priests Jehozadak and Seraiah in 1 Chronicles 6:3-15, (d) in 1 Chronicles 9:10-11; Nehemiah 11:11. The full genealogy then appears as follows: 1 Aaron, 2 Eleazar, 3 Phinehas, 4 Abishua, 5 Bukki, 6 Uzzi, 7 Zerahiah, 8 Meraioth, 9 Amariah, 10 Ahitub, 11 Zadok, 12 Ahimaaz, 13 Azariah, 14 Johanan, 15 Azariah, 16 Amariah, 17 Heli (?), 18 Phinehas (?), 19 Ahiah, 20 Ahitub, 21 Meraioth (see 1 Chronicles 9:11), 22 Zadok, 23 Shallum, Meshullam (1 Chronicles 9:11), 24 Hilkiah, 25 Azariah, 26 Seraiah, 27 son of Seraiah, 28 (?), contemporary with Zerubbabel, 29 father of Ezra, 30 Ezra. Of these names 9–14 occur in 1 Chron. 6:7–10:21 in 1 Chronicles 9:11 : 17, 18, 19 in 2Es 1:2 are doubtful. At least three and possibly four generations must be inserted between Seraiah (died 588) and Ezra (?
Whedon's Commentary on Ezra 7:3
SECTION SECOND.THE ACTS OF EZRA. — CHAPS. 7-10.EZRA’S GOING UP TO , Ezra 7:1-10. 1. After these things — Fifty-seven years after the events narrated at the close of the last chapter.