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Ezra 8:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוּמִבְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־ בֵּבָ֑י וְעִמּ֕וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

BSAfrom the descendantsbên [sons, posterity] of BebaiBêbay [my cavities] ZechariahZᵉkaryâh [Jehovah remembers] sonbên [offspring, descendant] of BebaiBêbay and with himʻim [together, in company, twenty and eight] 28ʻesrîym menzâkâr [males, male persons]

Word
Listen & take awayEzra 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.ze.kha.Rim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezra 8:11quick helps
In a sentenceEzra lists the descendants of Bebai, highlighting Zechariah and his companions.
Who is speakingThe author of Ezra, recounting the return from exile.
Where we areA record of the returning exiles, specifically detailing their lineage.
The hard wordבֵּבַי
Take awayThe emphasis is on the descendants of Bebai and their numbers.
3 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 8:11

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

10from the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
11from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
12from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
13from the later descendants of Adonikam, these were their names: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;

Ezra 8:11 details the lineage of those returning from Babylonian exile, showcasing the importance of family heritage in the restoration of Israel. This verse highlights the descendants of Bebai, specifically naming Zechariah, and notes the number of men accompanying him, emphasizing the organized nature of the return and the significance of each family's contribution to the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezra 2:11the descendants of Bebai, 623;
2Ezra 10:28From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
3Nehemiah 7:16the descendants of Bebai, 628;

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word בֵּן, u.mi.be.Neigenerated

The word בֵּן (ben) translates to 'son' or 'descendant' and can refer to a range of familial relationships, including grandsons or members of a tribe. Its use here indicates a direct lineage, connecting Zechariah to Bebai, and underscores the importance of ancestry in the context of the returning exiles.

This noun is in the construct state, linking it directly to the preceding phrase, which means it functions to show possession or relationship. The parsing indicates it is a common masculine noun in the plural form, suggesting a larger group of descendants.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we reference the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which uses descendants for בְּנֵי.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb is implied in the phrase structure, indicating a list format rather than a complete sentence. The main clause introduces the descendants, with subsequent phrases detailing specific individuals and their numbers.

The structure emphasizes the lineage by placing the noun phrases prominently, with the prepositional phrases providing additional context about the relationships and numbers involved.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates בֵּן as υἱῶν (G5207), which also means 'sons' or 'descendants'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing familial ties.

The Greek word βαβι is used for בֵּבַי, indicating a direct correspondence and maintaining the significance of the name in the context of the return.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezra 8:11 lists the descendants of Bebai, specifically naming Zechariah, son of Bebai, and notes that he was accompanied by 28 men. This verse highlights the organization of the returning exiles and the importance of their lineage.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who is Bebai?

Bebai was an Israelite leader mentioned in Ezra and Nehemiah, known for returning from exile.

What does Zechariah's name mean?

Zechariah means 'Jehovah remembers', indicating a significant spiritual connection.

Why is lineage important in this context?

Lineage emphasizes the restoration of Israel and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.

How many men accompanied Zechariah?

Zechariah was accompanied by 28 men, highlighting the organized nature of the return.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean to be a descendant in the context of faith and community?
  2. How does understanding lineage enhance our view of biblical narratives?
  3. In what ways can we honor our heritage in our spiritual journeys?
  4. What role does community play in our faith, as seen in the return from exile?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezra 8:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezra 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezra 8:11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.Ver. 11. Zechariah the son of Bebai] See Ezra 8:9.

Read John Trapp on Ezra 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3–14. The register of the laity or “the men of the people of Israel” as in Ezra 2:2. The names of these houses with the exception of Shechaniah (Ezra 8:5) and Shelomith (Ezra 8:10) appear also in chap. 2 and Nehemiah 7. But it is most probable that the text has in the case of both these exceptions suffered (see notes on the verses), and that the houses of Zattu and Bani (Ezra 2:8; Ezra 2:10) are represented by Shechaniah and Shelomith. Twelve households are represented by their chiefs and the number of their males given. The number ‘twelve’ was perhaps designedly taken to symbolize the united Israel. The parallel list in 1 Esdras does not contain many variations. The following table places…

Read Cambridge on Ezra 8 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

NETBNew English Translation2006

from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty and eight males.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty and eight males.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And of the sonnes of Bebai, Zechariah the sonne of Bebai, and with him eight and twentie males.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And of the children of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And from the sons of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight who are males.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And from the sons of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight who are males.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him were twenty and eight males.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai and with him were listed twenty-eight males.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Of the sons of Bebai, Zacharias the son of Bebai: and with him eight and twenty men.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

From the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, son of Bebai, and with him 28 men.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.

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.

וּandclauseprepositional phrase · predicateמִofnoun phraseבְּנֵ֣יthe.descendantsבֵבַ֔יof.Bebainoun phrase · subjectזְכַרְיָ֖הZechariahnoun phraseבֶּןthe.sonבֵּבָ֑יof.Bebaiוְandclauseprepositional phrase · predicateעִמּ֕withוֹhimnoun phrase · subjectnumeral phraseעֶשְׂרִ֥ים[were].twentyוּandשְׁמֹנָ֖הeightnoun phraseהַtheזְּכָרִֽיםmales

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states, "וּמִבְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־ בֵּבָ֑י וְעִמּ֕וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס" which translates to "from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men." The Septuagint largely agrees with the Masoretic Text, matching 8 of the 9 words, though the exact wording and structure may differ due to translation choices. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional evidence for this specific verse, leaving the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint as the primary witnesses.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־ בֵּבָ֑י וְעִמּ֕וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּמִבְּנֵ֣יυἱῶνבֵבַ֔יβαβιזְכַרְיָ֖הζαξαριαבֶּן־υἱὸςבֵּבָ֑יβαβιוְעִמּ֕וֹαὐτοῦוּשְׁמֹנָ֖הὀκτὼהַזְּכָרִֽים׃ סἀρσενικά

8 of the 9 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.

Ezra 8:11בֵּןand of [theand of [the] deבֵּןבֵּבַיBebaiBebaiבֵּבַיזְכַרְיָהוּZechariahZechariahזְכַרְיָהוּבֵּן[the] son o[the] son ofבֵּןבֵּבַיBebaiBebaiבֵּבַיעִםand with hiand with himעִםעֶשְׂרִים[were] twen[were] twentyעֶשְׂרִיםשְׁמֹנֶהand eightand eightשְׁמֹנֶהזָכָרthe malesthe malesזָכָרבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהזָכַרto remembeto rememberזָכַרעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםעֶשֶׂרtentenעֶשֶׂרשָׁמֵןrichrichשָׁמֵןעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןזְכַרְיָהוּZechariahZechariahזְכַרְיָהוּשְׁמִירָמוֹתShemiramotShemiramothשְׁמִירָמוֹתיְחִיאֵלJehielJehielיְחִיאֵלשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַררֹ֫חַבwidthwidthרֹ֫חַבאַמָּהcubitcubitאַמָּהעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂרמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהנְקֵבָהfemalefemaleנְקֵבָהמוּלto circumcto circumciseמוּל
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Ezra 8:11

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.

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
וּמִבְּנֵ֣יu.mi.be.Nei and of [the] descendants of H1121 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
sons, posterity
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-mp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HC/R/Ncmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
בֵבַ֔יve.Vai Bebai H893 Noun proper masculine
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Bebai was an Israelite leader who returned from exile, mentioned in Nehemiah 10:15. His name means 'my cavities', possibly referring to a physical characteristic or a place.
Amplified meaning
my cavities
Tyndale gloss
Bebai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּבַי (bebay) refers to a man named Bebai, a leader among the returning exiles during the time of the Exile and Return. The name is thought to mean "my cavities." He is mentioned in Ezra 2:11, Ezra 8:11, and Nehemiah 10:15.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּבַי n.pr.m. a chief of returning exiles

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H893 בֵּבַי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

893 Bebay bay-bah'ee

probably of foreign origin; Bebai, an Israelite:--Bebai.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּבַי (be.vay) — Bebai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.11

§ Bebai = "my cavities"

a leader of the returning exiles

בֵּבַי (be.vay) — Bebai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.11b;

father of: Zechariah (H2148R)

§ Bebai = "my cavities"

a leader of the returning exiles

בֵּבַי (be.vay) — Bebai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.15

§ Bebai = "my cavities"

a leader of the returning exiles

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be'-ba-i, beb'-a-i (bebhay; Septuagint Bebai, "fatherly"):

(1) Descendants of B: returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (Ezr 8:11 called Babi; 1 Esdras 8:37); one of these is Zechariah, the son of Bebai (Ezr 8:11, Zaeharias; 1 Esdras 8:37). 623 returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezr 2:11; 1 Esdras 5:13; Ne 7:16 gives the number 628); some of these had married "strange wives" (Ezr 10:28; 1 Esdras 9:29).

(2) A chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah (Ne 10:15).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(fatherly). "Sons of Bebai," 623 (Nehe 6:28) in number, returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, (2:11; Nehemiah 7:16) (B.C. 536), and at a later period twenty-eight more under Zechariah, son of Bebai, returned with Ezra. (Ezra 8:11) Four of this family had taken foreign wives. (Ezra 10:28) The name occurs also among those who sealed the covenant. (Nehemiah 10:15) Father of Zechariah, who was the leader of the twenty-eight men of his tribe mentioned above.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

void, empty

Nave's Topical Bible

→ The name of three Jews whose descendants came from the exile Ezr 2:11; 8:11; 10:28; Ne 7:16; 10:15

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
זְכַרְיָ֖הze.khar.Yah Zechariah H2148 Noun proper masculine
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Zechariah means Jehovah remembers, a name given to 29 Israelites, including a prophet and priest who lived during the Exile and Return, as mentioned in Nehemiah 12:35 and Zechariah 1:1.
Amplified meaning
Jehovah remembers
Tyndale gloss
Zechariah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְכַרְיָהוּ (Zkaryah) means 'Jehovah remembers' and refers to various figures in the Old Testament, including a prophet and several individuals from the tribe of Levi. The entries highlight a range of roles, from kings and priests to Levites and returned exiles, with notable mentions of a prophet contemporary with Isaiah. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְכַרְיָהוּ, oftener זְכַרְיָה n.pr.m.

king of Isr., son of Jerob. II

father of Hezekiah’s mother

contemporary of Isaiah

a Reubenite

a Benjamite

a Manassite

a son of Jehoshaphat

a captain of Jehosh.

teacher of Uzziah

Levites

priests

returned exiles

base

זְכַרְיָה n.pr.m. prophet

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2148a זְכַרְיָהוּ, oftener זְכַרְיָה H2148b זְכַרְיָה prophet

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2148 Zkaryah zek-ar-yaw'

or Zkaryahuw {zek-ar-yaw'-hoo}; from 2142 and 3050; Jah has

remembered; Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine

Israelites:--Zachariah, Zechariah.

see HEBREW for 02142

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְכַרְיָהוּ (ze.khar.yah) — Zechariah.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.21;

son of: Meshelemiah (H4920);

brother of: Jediael (H3043J), Zebadiah (H2069J), Jathniel (H3496), Elam (H5867H), Jehohanan (H3076I) and Eliehoenai (H0454A)

§ Zechariah = "Jehovah remembers"

1) king of Israel, son of Jeroboam II

2) son of Meshelemiah of Shelemiah, a Korhite, and keeper of the north gate of the tabernacle of the congregation

3) one of the sons of Jehiel

4) a Levite of the second order in the temple band in the time of David

5) one of the princes of Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat

6) son of the high priest Jehoiada, in the reign of Joash king of Judah, who was stoned in the court of the temple

7) a Kohathite Levite in the reign of Josiah

8) the leader of the sons of Pharosh who returned with Ezra

9) son of Bebai

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Zechariah

Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1.) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as “the son of Berechiah.” In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 he is called “the son of Iddo,” who was properly his grandfather. His prophetical career began in the second year of Darius (B.C. 520), about sixteen years after the return of the first company from exile. He was contemporary with Haggai (Ezra 5:1).

His book consists of two distinct parts, (1) chapters 1 to 8, inclusive, and (2) 9 to the end. It begins with a preface (1:1-6), which recalls the nation’s past history, for the purpose of presenting a solemn warning to the present generation. Then follows a series of eight visions (1:7-6:8), succeeding…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The eleventh in order of the twelve minor prophets. He is called in his prophecy the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo, whereas in the book of Ezra, (Ezra 5:1; 6:14) he is said to have been the son of Iddo. It is natural to suppose as the prophet himself mentions his father’s name, whereas the book of Ezra mentions only Iddo, that Berechiah had died early, and that there was now no intervening link between the grandfather and the grandson. Zechariah, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel before him, was priest as well as prophet. He seems to have entered upon his office while yet young, (Zechariah 2:4) and must have been born in Babylon whence he returned with the first caravan of exiles under Zerubbabel and Jeshua. It was in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, that he first…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Berechiah, and grandson of Iddo the priest; called the son of Iddo in Ezr 5:1 6:14, and his successor in the priesthood, Ne 12:4,16, perhaps because Berechiah was then dead. Zechariah is the eleventh of the minor prophets. He returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, and began to prophesy while yet young, Zec 2:4, in the second year of Darius son of Hystaspes, B. C. 520, in the eighth month of the holy year, and two months after Haggai. These two prophets, with united zeal, encouraged the people to resume the work of the temple, which had been discontinued for some years, Ezr 5:1.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

same as Zachariah

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
בֶּן־ben- [the] son of H1121 Noun common · masculine singular construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
offspring, descendant
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
בֵּבָ֑יbe.Vai Bebai H893 Noun proper masculine
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Bebai was an Israelite leader who returned from exile, mentioned in Nehemiah 10:15. His name means 'my cavities', possibly referring to a physical characteristic or a place.
Tyndale gloss
Bebai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּבַי (bebay) refers to a man named Bebai, a leader among the returning exiles during the time of the Exile and Return. The name is thought to mean "my cavities." He is mentioned in Ezra 2:11, Ezra 8:11, and Nehemiah 10:15.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּבַי n.pr.m. a chief of returning exiles

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H893 בֵּבַי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

893 Bebay bay-bah'ee

probably of foreign origin; Bebai, an Israelite:--Bebai.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּבַי (be.vay) — Bebai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.11

§ Bebai = "my cavities"

a leader of the returning exiles

בֵּבַי (be.vay) — Bebai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.11b;

father of: Zechariah (H2148R)

§ Bebai = "my cavities"

a leader of the returning exiles

בֵּבַי (be.vay) — Bebai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.15

§ Bebai = "my cavities"

a leader of the returning exiles

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be'-ba-i, beb'-a-i (bebhay; Septuagint Bebai, "fatherly"):

(1) Descendants of B: returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (Ezr 8:11 called Babi; 1 Esdras 8:37); one of these is Zechariah, the son of Bebai (Ezr 8:11, Zaeharias; 1 Esdras 8:37). 623 returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezr 2:11; 1 Esdras 5:13; Ne 7:16 gives the number 628); some of these had married "strange wives" (Ezr 10:28; 1 Esdras 9:29).

(2) A chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah (Ne 10:15).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(fatherly). "Sons of Bebai," 623 (Nehe 6:28) in number, returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, (2:11; Nehemiah 7:16) (B.C. 536), and at a later period twenty-eight more under Zechariah, son of Bebai, returned with Ezra. (Ezra 8:11) Four of this family had taken foreign wives. (Ezra 10:28) The name occurs also among those who sealed the covenant. (Nehemiah 10:15) Father of Zechariah, who was the leader of the twenty-eight men of his tribe mentioned above.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

void, empty

Nave's Topical Bible

→ The name of three Jews whose descendants came from the exile Ezr 2:11; 8:11; 10:28; Ne 7:16; 10:15

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
וְעִמּ֕וֹve.'i.Mo and with him H5973 Conjunction · preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Amplified meaning
together, in company, twenty and eight
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · suffix
HC/Rd/Sp3ms
and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים'es.Rim [were] twenty H6242 Adj
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.
Tyndale gloss
twenty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶשְׂרִים (esriym) means 'twenty' and can also refer to the ordinal 'twentieth.' It is derived from the root word for 'ten' and has an Aramaic equivalent, עֶשְׂרִין (es.rin). The entries consistently define the term without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6242 עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6242 `esriym es-reem'

from 6235; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth:--(six-)score,

twenty(-ieth).

see HEBREW for 06235

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶשְׂרִים (es.rim) — twenty.

twenty, twentieth

Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

twen'-ti.

See NUMBER.

and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
וּשְׁמֹנָ֖הu.she.mo.Nah and eight H8083 Conjunction
109× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number eight, which was considered a special number in biblical times. It is used to describe quantities, such as eight days or eight years, and also appears in ordinal forms, like eighth or eighth day.
Tyndale gloss
eight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמֹנֶה (shmoneh) means 'eight' and can also denote 'eighth' as an ordinal number. It is derived from the idea of plumpness, suggesting a surplus beyond seven, which is considered a perfect number. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations with other numbers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה 109 n.m. et f. eight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8083 שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה eight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8083 shmoneh shem-o-neh'

or shmowneh {shem-o-neh'}; feminine shmonah {shem-o-naw'}; or

shmownah {shem-o-naw'}; apparently from 8082 through the idea

of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above

the "perfect" seven); also (as ordinal)

eighth:--eight((-een, -eenth)), eighth.

see HEBREW for 08082

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמֹנֶה (she.mo.neh) — eight.

1) eight, eighth

1a) eight (as cardinal number)

1b) eighth (as ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Acbsa — Conjunction
HC/Acbsa
and of [the] descendants of Bebai Zechariah [the] son of Bebai and with him [were] twenty and eight the males
הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ סha.ze.kha.Rim the males H2145 Particle
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means male, referring to men or male animals, emphasizing their importance. It is used in the Bible to distinguish between males and females. The word is often translated as 'him' or 'male' in English.
Amplified meaning
males, male persons
Tyndale gloss
male
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָכָר (zakar) refers to a male, specifically the male of humans and animals. It is used both as a noun to denote male offspring and as an adjective to describe humans as male. The term is derived from a root meaning 'remembered,' emphasizing the male as a noteworthy sex.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָכָר n.m. & adj. male

subst. male, offspring of men and animals

adj. sg. male (only human beings)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2145 זָכָר male . subst. male, offspring of men and animals

. adj. sg. male (only human beings)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2145 zakar zaw-kawr'

from 2142; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or

animals, as being the most noteworthy sex):--X him, male,

man(child, -kind).

see HEBREW for 02142

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָכָר (za.khar) — male.

1) male (of humans and animals)

adj

2) male (of humans)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle
HTd/Aampa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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