Zabad זָבָד
Israelite who married a foreign wife
Who is Zabad in the Bible?
Zabad was the son of Hashum, an Israelite who married a foreign wife during the Babylonian exile (Ezra 10:33). When Ezra the priest and scribe returned to Jerusalem, he discovered that many Israelites had intermarried with pagan peoples in violation of God's commands, and Zabad was among those confronted about this practice. Upon Ezra's call for repentance, Zabad agreed to separate from his foreign wife and children. His inclusion in this narrative highlights the post-exilic community's struggle to maintain religious and ethnic boundaries, and his willingness to obey Ezra's directive demonstrates the restoration of Jewish commitment to covenant law after the exile.
Biography
Zabad, the son of Hashum, is listed among the men who had taken foreign wives during the Babylonian exile. This issue came to light when Ezra, the priest and scribe, returned to Jerusalem and discovered that many Israelites had intermarried with the pagan peoples of the land, contrary to God's command. Zabad was one of those who had married a foreign woman. When Ezra called for repentance, Zabad and the others agreed to separate from their foreign wives and children to preserve the holiness of the Jewish people.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:33
"From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei."
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זָבָד |