Boy Old & New Testament Known
Zerubbabel
a stranger at Babylon; dispersion of confusion
זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל Ζοροβάβελ ze.rub.ba.vel
Zerubbabel (Hebrew: זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל, ze.rub.ba.vel) means “a stranger at Babylon; dispersion of confusion”, by traditional interpretation. Three men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Divided Kingdom period. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Bigvai in Ezra 2.
Which Zerubbabel?
Three men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Zerubbabel
father of Abiud
-
Zerubbabel
-
Zerubbabel
father of Rhesa
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 28 across 7 books
- Bearers
- 3 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Chronicles 3:19 |
| Last appears | Luke 3:27 |
| Cross-references | 697 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Shealtiel co-occurrence Appears with Shealtiel in Haggai 1.
- Joshua co-occurrence Appears with Joshua in Haggai 1.
- Jehozadak co-occurrence Appears with Jehozadak in Haggai 1.
- Jeshua co-occurrence Appears with Jeshua in Ezra 3.
- Jozadak co-occurrence Appears with Jozadak in Ezra 3.
- Seraiah co-occurrence Appears with Seraiah in Ezra 2.
- Bigvai co-occurrence Appears with Bigvai in Ezra 2.
- Bilshan co-occurrence Appears with Bilshan in Ezra 2.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.3.19;
son of: Pedaiah (H6305H);
brother of: Shimei (H8096J);
father of: Meshullam (H4918H), Hananiah (H2608L), Shelomith (H8019I), Hashubah (H2807), Ohel (H0169), Berechiah (H1296), Hasadiah (H2619), Jushab-hesed (H3142) and Abiud (G0010); also called Sheshbazzar at Ezr.1.8,11; 5.14,16; KJV: Zorobabel at Mat.1.12,13;
§ Zerubbabel = "sown in Babylon"
the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon
Zerubbabel (or Sheshbazzar), a descendant of David, led the first group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon and oversaw the rebuilding of the temple.
The biblical story
Zerubbabel, also known as Sheshbazzar, was a descendant of King David who played a crucial role in the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He is mentioned in various books of the Old Testament, including 1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah. Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia. He is listed among the leaders who returned and is credited with laying the foundation of the temple. Despite facing opposition from the Samaritans and others, Zerubbabel, along with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, encouraged the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple. He is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing his importance in the messianic lineage. Zerubbabel's leadership and dedication were instrumental in reestablishing Jewish worship in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Key verses
Zerubbabel appears in 27 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
1 Chronicles 3:19 -
Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
Ezra 1:8 -
All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:11 -
Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Ezra 2:2 -
Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
Ezra 3:2
Show all 27 references
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 3:19
Ezra (10)
- Ezra 1:8
- Ezra 1:11
- Ezra 2:2
- Ezra 3:2
- Ezra 3:8
- Ezra 4:2
- Ezra 4:3
- Ezra 5:2
- Ezra 5:14
- Ezra 5:16
Nehemiah (3)
- Nehemiah 7:7
- Nehemiah 12:1
- Nehemiah 12:47
Haggai (7)
- Haggai 1:1
- Haggai 1:12
- Haggai 1:14
- Haggai 2:2
- Haggai 2:4
- Haggai 2:21
- Haggai 2:23
Zechariah (4)
- Zechariah 4:6
- Zechariah 4:7
- Zechariah 4:9
- Zechariah 4:10
Matthew (2)
- Matthew 1:12
- Matthew 1:13