Ezra 10:20 — Word Study
WLCוּמִבְּנֵ֣י אִמֵּ֔ר חֲנָ֖נִי וּזְבַדְיָֽה׃ ס
BSAFrom the descendantsbên [sons, offspring, or posterity] of ImmerʼImmêr [a priestly family, the father of a priest named Zadok] HananiChănânîy [gracious, one who has received God's favor] and ZebadiahZᵉbadyâh [endowment of Jehovah, gift from God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּמִבְּנֵ֣י | and of [the] sons of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| אִמֵּ֔ר | Immer | Noun proper masculine |
| חֲנָ֖נִי | Hanani | Noun proper masculine |
| וּזְבַדְיָֽה׃ ס | and Zebadiah | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. |
| KJV | And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah. |
| ASV | And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. |
| YLT | And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah; |
| WEB | Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. |
| BBE | And of the sons of Immer, Hanani and Zebadiah. |
Where they part company is in the details of the names mentioned, but they agree on the essential meaning.
The sentence is straightforward, listing the names of the individuals as part of a genealogical record.
2 commentators on this verse
Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ezra 10:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Return from Exilegenerated
Ezra 10:20 is part of a list detailing the descendants of various families who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This verse specifically mentions Hanani and Zebadiah as part of the priestly line descended from Immer. The context highlights the importance of lineage and priestly roles during the restoration of the Jewish community.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra 2:37 | the descendants of Immer, 1,052; |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 24:14 | the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, |
| 3 | Nehemiah 7:40 | the descendants of Immer, 1,052; |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אִמֵּ֔ר, 'i.Mergenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'descendant' and encompasses various meanings, including offspring and lineage. It indicates family relationships and inheritance, which is crucial in the context of priestly families.
In this verse, it connects the descendants of Immer to their identity as part of the priestly lineage, emphasizing their roles in the community's religious life.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is introduced by the conjunction וּמִבְּנֵ֣י, and of the sons of, leading into the noun phrase that identifies the descendants. The structure is straightforward, listing the family line without complex subordination.
The sentence emphasizes the familial connection and lineage, which is typical in genealogical records, ensuring clarity in identifying the individuals mentioned.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אִמֵּ֔ר as εμμηρ, maintaining the name's significance in the priestly lineage. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew text, preserving the identity of Immer.
The Greek translation does not expand or alter the meaning, indicating a consistent understanding of the lineage within the context of the return from exile.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezra 10:20 lists Hanani and Zebadiah as descendants of Immer, a priestly family. This verse highlights their roles in the community returning from exile, showing the importance of lineage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Hanani and Zebadiah were descendants of Immer, part of the priestly lineage during the time of the return from exile.
Mentioning descendants emphasizes the importance of lineage and identity, particularly for priestly families in the context of religious duties.
Immer is significant as a priestly ancestor, linking the individuals mentioned to a respected lineage within the Israelite community.
This verse highlights the restoration of the priestly line and the re-establishment of religious practices in Jerusalem after the exile.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the importance of lineage in our own families?
- How does understanding the roles of individuals like Hanani and Zebadiah help us appreciate the community's restoration?
- In what ways can we honor our own heritage while contributing to our communities today?
- What does this verse teach us about the significance of priestly roles in the context of worship?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezra 10:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18-44) List of the transgressors. (19) They gave their hands.—The four members of the high priest’s family were peculiarly dealt with. They gave their distinct pledge, and offered each a special trespass offering. It is one among a multitude of similar tokens of authenticity in the history; and inventor would have given some reason for the peculiarity. (22) Pashur.—Comparing Ezra 2:36-39, we find that all the priestly families that returned with Zerub-babel were implicated in the national offence. (25) Of Israel.—Of the laity eighty-six are mentioned, belonging to ten races which returned with Zerubbabel. (34) Bani.—Probably this should be some other name, as Bani occurs before. The…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezra 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18–44. The List of those who ‘had married strange women’The record of the names was probably one of the documents officially preserved. The publicity of such a list was in itself a punishment to the offenders and a warning to others. As in chap. 2, the list falls into the three groups of Priests, Levites, and Israel (or Laity), i.e. 17 Priests, 10 Levites, 86 ‘of Israel’—113 in all.
Read Cambridge on Ezra 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
Tyndale line
And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
And of the sons of Immer; Hanani and Zebadiah.
And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
And of the sonnes of Immer, Honani, and Zebadiah.
Strictly literal
And of the children of Immer: Hanani, and Zebadiah.
And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;
And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;
And of the sons of Immer: Chanani, and Zebadyah.
Among the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
From the Latin
And of the sons of Emmer, Hanani, and Zebedia.
Simplified
From the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
And of the sons of Immer, Hanani and Zebadiah.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all four words matched in the Greek translation. This indicates a strong textual consistency between the Hebrew and Greek traditions.
וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אִמֵּ֔ר חֲנָ֖נִי וּזְבַדְיָֽה׃ ס
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ezra 10:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
Conj | Prep | N-mp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHC/R/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אִמֵּר (Immer) refers to a name associated with several priests in the Old Testament, particularly during the times of David and Jeremiah. The name means 'he hath said' and is linked to the lineage of Zadok the priest. The entries note that Immer is a significant figure in the priestly line, mentioned in contexts of exile and return.
אִמֵּר n.pr.m.
a priest assigned to Dvd’s time
ancestor of priest
priest in Jerem.’s time
father of Zadok
n.pr.loc. (?)
base
H564 אִמֵּר
564 'Immer im-mare'
from 559; talkative; Immer, the name of five
Israelites:--Immer.
see HEBREW for 0559
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.12;
father of: Meshillemith (H4921)
§ Immer = "he hath said"
1) a priest in David's time
2) a priest in Jeremiah's time
3) the father of Zadok the priest
4) an ancestor of a priest
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.14
§ Immer = "he hath said"
1) a priest in David's time
2) a priest in Jeremiah's time
3) the father of Zadok the priest
4) an ancestor of a priest
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
§ Immer = "he hath said"
birthplace of a priest
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.3.29;
father of: Zadok (H6659K)
§ Immer = "he hath said"
1) a priest in David's time
2) a priest in Jeremiah's time
3) the father of Zadok the priest
4) an ancestor of a priest
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(talkative). The founder of an important family of priests. (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:13) This family had charge of, and gave its name to, the sixteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 24:14) (B.C. 1014.) Apparently the name of a place in Babylonia. (Ezra 2:59; Nehemiah 7:61)
saying; speaking; a lamb
The Hebrew word חֲנָנִי (Chananiy) means 'gracious' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament. Notably, it identifies a prophet, a chief musician during David's reign, and a brother of Nehemiah. The entries indicate that Chanani was involved in significant events, such as rebuking King Asa and taking a foreign wife during Ezra's time.
חֲנָנִי n.pr.m.
father of the prophet Jehu
brother of Nehemiah
a chief musician of David
a chief musician in time of Nehemiah
a priest of Ezra’s time
base
H2607 חֲנָנִי
2607 Chananiy khan-aw-nee'
from 2603; gracious; Chanani, the name of six
Israelites:--Hanani.
see HEBREW for 02603
חֲנָנִי (cha.na.ni) — Hanani.
A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.1;
father of: Jehu (H3058)
§ Hanani = "gracious"
1) one of the sons of Heman, a chief musician of David, and head of the 18th course of the service
2) a seer who rebuked Asa, king of Judah, and was imprisoned
2a) maybe, father of Jehu the seer who testified against Baasha
3) one of the priests who in the time of Ezra took a foreign wife
4) brother of Nehemiah whom Nehemiah appointed governor of Jerusalem
5) another priest who was the chief musician under Nehemiah
חֲנָנִי (cha.na.ni) — Hanani.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.25.4;
son of: Heman (H1968I);
brother of: Bukkiah (H1232), Mattaniah (H4983H), Uzziel (H5816J), Shebuel (H7619H), Jerimoth (H3406L), Hananiah (H2608P), Eliathah (H0448), Giddalti (H1437)…
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Hanani
God has gratified me, or is gracious. (1.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4, 25). (2.) A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for entering into a league with Benhadad I., king of Syria, against Judah (2 Chr. 16:1-10). He was probably the father of the prophet Jehu (1 Kings 16:7). (3.) Probably a brother of Nehemiah (Neh. 1:2; 7:2), who reported to him the melancholy condition of Jerusalem. Nehemiah afterwards appointed him to have charge of the city gates.
(gracious). One of the sons of Heman, and head of the eighteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 25:4,25) A seer who rebuked (B.C. 941) Asa king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 16:7) For this he was imprisoned. ver. 10 He or another Hanani was the father of Jehu the seer, who testified against Baasha, (1 Kings 16:1,7) and Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 19:2; 20:34) One of the priests who in the time of Ezra had taken strange wives. (Ezra 10:20) A brother of Nehemiah, (Nehemiah 1:2) who was made governor of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. Ch. (
1. A seer in the time of Asa, 955-914 B. C. imprisoned for his fidelity. He was also the father of the prophet Jehu, 1Ki 16:1-7 2Ch 16:7-10 19:2 20:34.
2. A brother of Nehemiah, who brought to Babylon an account of the wretched state of the Jews then at Jerusalem, and afterwards had charge of the gates of the city, Ne 1:1-3 7:2,3, B. C. 455.
זְבַדְיָהוּ (Zebadiah) means 'Jah has given' and is a personal name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily from the tribes of Benjamin and Levi. The entries detail various figures named Zebadiah, including a Levite and officers under King David and Jehoshaphat, as well as a priest during Ezra's time. The name appears in contexts related to leadership and priesthood.
זְבַדְיָהוּ, זְבַדְיָה n.pr.m. (י׳ hath bestowed)
Levites
an officer of Jehoshaphat
Benjamites
one of David’s men
an officer of David
a returning exile
one of priestly house
base
H2069 זְבַדְיָהוּ, זְבַדְיָה, זְבַדיָה
2069 Zbadyah zeb-ad-yaw'
or Zbadyahuw {zeb-ad-yaw'-hoo}; from 2064 and 3050; Jah has
given; Zebadjah, the name of nine Israelites:--Zebadiah.
see HEBREW for 02064
see HEBREW for 03050
זְבַדְיָהוּ (ze.vad.yah) — Zebadiah.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.15;
son of: Beriah (H1283I);
brother of: Arad (H6166B), Ahio (H0283H), Shashak (H8349), Jeremoth (H3406I), Eder (H5738), Michael (H4317L), Ishpah (H3472) and Joha (H3109)
§ Zebadiah = "endowment of Jehovah"
1) a Benjamite of the sons of Beriah
2) a Benjamite of the sons of Elpaal
3) one of the sons of Jeroham of Gedor and one of David's men
4) son of Asahel, brother of Joab, and one of David's men
5) son of Michael, of the sons of Shephatiah
6) a priest of the sons of Immer, who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
7) a Levite, 3rd son of Meshelemiah the Korhite
8) a Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat
9) son of Ishmael and prince of the house of Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat
זְבַדְיָהוּ (ze.vad.yah) — Zebadiah.
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
zeb-a-di'-a
(1) zebhadhyaha,
(2) zebhadhyah, "Yah has bestowed";
the form (1) is the Hebrew name in (1), (a), (b), (2), below; the form (2) in the rest. Some manuscripts have Zechariah in (1), (a), (b), (3)).
Compare ZABDI; ZABDIEL:
(1) Levites:
(a) a Korahite doorkeeper of David's reign (1Ch 26:2);
(b) one of the Levites sent by King Jehoshaphat to teach the Torah in Judah (2Ch 17:8).
Zebadiah
Gift of Jehovah. (1.) A son of Asahel, Joab’s brother (1 Chr. 27:7).
(2.) A Levite who took part as one of the teachers in the system of national education instituted by Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 17:7, 8).
(3.) The son of Ishmael, “the ruler of the house of Judah in all the king’s matters” (2 Chr. 19:8-11).
(4.) A son of Beriah (1 Chr. 8:15).
(5.) A Korhite porter of the Lord’s house (1 Chr. 26:2). Three or four others of this name are also mentioned.
A Benjamite of the sons of Beriah. (1 Chronicles 8:15) A Benjamite of the sons of Elpaal. (1 Chronicles 8:17) One of the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. (1 Chronicles 12:7) Son of Asahel, the brother of Joab. (1 Chronicles 27:7) Son of Michael, of the sons of Shephatiah. (Ezra 8:8) A priest Of the sons of Immer, who had married a foreign wife after the return from Babylon. (Ezra 10:20) Third son of Meshelemiah the Korhite. (1 Chronicles 26:3) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (
portion of the Lord; the Lord is my portion