Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל
Leader of the first Jewish exiles from Babylon
Who is Zerubbabel in the Bible?
Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David who led the first group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon following the Persian king Cyrus's decree (Ezra 2:2, 3:2). Also known as Sheshbazzar, he oversaw the laying of the temple's foundation and the rebuilding of the temple despite significant opposition from surrounding peoples (Ezra 3:8, 4:2-3). With encouragement from the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel rallied the people to complete this crucial reconstruction (Haggai 1:12-14, Zechariah 4:6-10). His significance extends beyond his historical role as a political and religious leader, as he appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:12, linking him directly to the messianic line and demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant with David's descendants.
Biography
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.
Family
Offspring
- Meshullam Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelSon of Zerubbabel, a descendant of David.View full profile →
- Hananiah Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelSon of Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David.View full profile →
- Shelomith Tribe of LeviSon of IzharLevite descendant of IzharView full profile →
- Hashubah Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelA descendant of King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) of Judah.View full profile →
- Ohel Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelDescendant of JudahView full profile →
- Berechiah Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelDescendant of David through ZerubbabelView full profile →
- Hasadiah Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelA descendant of King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) of Judah.View full profile →
- Jushab-hesed Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelA descendant of King JehoiachinView full profile →
- Abiud Tribe of JudahSon of ZerubbabelSon of Zerubbabel, ancestor of JesusView full profile →
In Scripture
6 biblical books ; 3 with study content1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:19
"The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The children of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, their sister Shelomith,"
Ezra 5 verses
- Ezra 2:2
"accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 3:2
"Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 3:8
"In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity,..."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 4:2
"they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 4:3
"But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”"
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 3 verses
- Nehemiah 7:7
"accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:1
"Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:47
"So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron."
Study Nehemiah →
Haggai 5 verses
- Haggai 1:1
"In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating"
- Haggai 1:12
"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD."
- Haggai 1:14
"So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God,"
- Haggai 2:2
"“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them,"
- Haggai 2:4
"But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts."
Zechariah 4 verses
- Zechariah 4:6
"So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts."
- Zechariah 4:7
"What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”"
- Zechariah 4:9
"“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you."
- Zechariah 4:10
"For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”"
Matthew 2 verses
- Matthew 1:12
"After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,"
Study Matthew → - Matthew 1:13
"Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor."
Study Matthew →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל | Zerubbabel , an Israelite |
| Aramaic | Hebrew | זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל | — |
| Named | Hebrew | שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר | Sheshbatstsar , Zerubbabel's Persian name |
| Aramaic | Hebrew | שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר | — |
| Greek | Greek | Ζοροβάβελ | — |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Zerubbabel
Ezr 3:2,8; 5:2; Ne 12:1; Hag 1:1,12,14; Mt 1:12; Lu 3:27); but in 1Ch 3:19 he is called the son of Pedaiah, the brother apparently of Shealtiel (Salathiel) and the son or grandson of Jeconiah. It is probable that Shealtiel had no children and adopted Zerubbabel; or that Zerubbabel was his levirate son; or that, Shealtiel being childless, Zerubbabel succeeded to the rights of sonship as being the next of kin.
2Family
Whatever may have been his blood relationship to Jeconiah, the Scriptures teach that Zerubbabel was his legal successor, of the 3rd or 4th generation. According to 1Ch 3:19, he had one daughter, Shelomith, and seven sons, Meshullam, Hananiah, Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-hesed. In Mt 1:13 he is said to have been the father of Abiud (i.e. Abi-hud). As it is the custom in Arabia today to give a man a new name when his first son is born, so it may have been, in this case, that Meshullam was the father of Hud, and that his name was changed to Abiud as soon as his son was named Hud. In Lu 3:27, the son of Zerubbabel is called Rhesa. This is doubtless the title of the head of the captivity, the resh gelutha', and would be appropriate as a title of Meshullam in his capacity as the official representative of the captive Jews. That Zerubbabel is said in the New Testament to be the son of Shealtiel the son of Neri instead of Jeconiah may be accounted for on the supposition that Shealtiel was the legal heir or adopted son of Jeconiah, who according to Jer 36:30 was apparently to die childless.
3Relation to Sheshbazzar
It has been shown in the article on Sheshbazzar that he and Zerubbabel may possibly have been the same person and that the name may have been Shamash-ban (or bun)-zer-Babili-usur. It seems more probable, however, that Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah, was governor under Cyrus and that Zerubbabel was governor under Darius. The former, according to Ezr 1:8 and 5:14-16, laid the foundations, and the latter completed the building of the temple (Ezr 2:2,68; 4:2; Hag 1:14; Zec 4:9).
4History
All that is known certainly about Zerubbabel is found in the canonical books of Zechariah, Haggai and Ezra-Nehemiah. According to these he and Jeshua, the high priest, led up a band of captives from Babylon to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the temple in the second year of Darius Hystaspis. They first constructed the altar of burnt offerings, and afterward built a temple, usually called the Second Temple, much inferior in beauty to that of Solomon. According to Josephus and the apocryphal Book of Ezra (1 Esdras 3,4), Zerubbabel was a friend of Darius Hystaspis, having successfully competed before him in a contest whose object was to determine what was the strongest thing in the world--wine, kings, women, or truth. Zerubbabel, having demonstrated that truth was the mightiest of all, was called the king's "cousin," and was granted by him permission to go up to Jerusalem and to build the temple. Zerubbabel was also made a governor of Jerusalem, and performed also the duties of the tirshatha, an official who was probably the Persian collector of taxes.
See TIRSHATHA.
R. Dick Wilson
ze-roo-i'-a, ze-roo'-ya (tseruyah, tseruyah (2Sa 14:1; 16:10), meaning uncertain; Sarouia): In 2Sa 2:18;