Ezra 8:7 - Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.

Generated Verse: Ezra 8:7

What does "Ezra 8:7" mean?


This verse is part of a list in Ezra chapter 8 that details the families who returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon under the leadership of Ezra. Let's break down what it means:

"Of the sons of Elam..." This indicates that Jeshaiah was a descendant of Elam. Elam was a region east of Mesopotamia, and historically, some Jewish people had migrated there.

"Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah..." This identifies Jeshaiah as the leader or head of a specific family line within the Elamite descendants. Athaliah was his father.

"...and with him seventy males." This means that along with Jeshaiah, there were seventy other men (adult males) who were part of his family or group that returned to Jerusalem. This number signifies the size of the group that Jeshaiah was responsible for leading or representing.

In essence, the verse is a statement of record:

It documents that Jeshaiah, son of Athaliah, a descendant of Elam, led a group of seventy men back to Jerusalem from exile.
The verse serves to enumerate the families who participated in the return. It highlights the rebuilding of the Jewish community in their ancestral homeland after the Babylonian exile. It helps establish lineage and participation in the return.

The importance of this list lies in its historical significance. It shows the effort to re-establish the Israelite nation after the exile, and the importance placed on family lineage and those who contributed to the restoration.

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