Pochereth-hazzebaim פֹּכֶ֫רֶת הַצְבָיִם
Family of Solomon's servants
Who is Pochereth-hazzebaim in the Bible?
Pochereth-hazzebaim was a family of Solomon's servants who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah, as recorded in Ezra 2:57 and Nehemiah 7:59. This family was part of a distinct group separate from the Israelites, Levites, and priests, descendants of workers who had served the king's projects and estates during Solomon's reign. The exact meaning of the name remains uncertain, though it may have referred to the family head or to a profession or location associated with them. Their inclusion in the exile return lists highlights the diverse composition of the Jewish community that rebuilt Jerusalem after the captivity.
Biography
Pochereth-hazzebaim is the name of a family mentioned in the lists of the returned exiles in Ezr.2.57 and Neh.7.59. They are identified as descendants of Solomon's servants, a group distinct from the Israelites, Levites, and priests. Solomon's servants were likely individuals who had been assigned to work on the king's various projects and estates during his reign. The descendants of these servants returned to Jerusalem and Judah along with the other exiles after the Babylonian captivity. The name Pochereth-hazzebaim may refer to the head of the family or to a specific location or profession associated with the family. The exact meaning and origin of the name are uncertain. The inclusion of this family in the lists of the returned exiles highlights the diverse composition of the Jewish community that resettled in the land after the exile.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 2:57
"the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami."
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:59
"the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon."
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פֹּכֶ֫רֶת הַצְבָיִם |
Pochereth-hazzebaim
er (feminine) of the gazelles"): Name of the head of a post-exilic family. The first word is a feminine Kal participle; compare qoheleth ("preacher"), the Hebrew title of the Book of Eccl. BDB suggests that the feminine is that of office. King James Version has "Pochereth of Zebaim" in Ezr, but Ryle (Cambridge Bible, 235) notes that "of" is not in the 1611 edition
po'-et (poietes, "a maker"): Occurs in this sense only in Ac 17:28, where Paul quotes from the general expression of Greek mythology. The quotation if intended to be exact is probabl