Zabbai זַבַּי
Israelite who married a foreign wife
Who is Zabbai in the Bible?
Zabbai was an Israelite of the family of Bebai who is mentioned in Ezra 10:28 as one of the men who had married a foreign wife during the Babylonian exile. When Ezra the priest and scribe returned to Jerusalem, he discovered that many Israelites had violated God's commands by intermarrying with pagan peoples of the land. In response to Ezra's call for repentance, Zabbai agreed to separate from his foreign wife and children. His inclusion in this account illustrates the tension between cultural survival and religious fidelity during the postexilic period, and demonstrates the Israelites' commitment to maintaining covenant separation from the surrounding pagan nations.
Biography
Zabbai, of the sons of Bebai, is listed among the men who had taken foreign wives during the Babylonian exile. This issue was brought 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, going against God's command. Zabbai was one of those who had married a foreign woman. When Ezra called for repentance, Zabbai and the others agreed to separate from their foreign wives and children to maintain the holiness of the Jewish people.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:28
"From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זַבַּי |