Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

EZRA 10:15KJV
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Ezra 10:15 (KJV)

What does Ezra 10:15 mean?

Ezra 10:15 identifies four men involved in handling a difficult matter among the returned Jewish community. In the KJV’s wording, Jonathan and Jahaziah were assigned to the matter, while Meshullam and Shabbethai assisted them.

The matter concerned men who had married foreign wives and the proposal to send those wives and their children away. After the plan for officials to examine individual cases in verse 14, this verse names particular men connected with that work.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 10:15

  • “employed” — עָמַד (ʿamad): This word often means “stood.” The KJV understands the phrase as standing over or taking responsibility for the matter.
  • “helped” — עָזַר (ʿazar): This word means to help or support. It presents Meshullam and Shabbethai as giving assistance to the two men named first.

Why Ezra 10:15 matters

  • The verse places the matter in the hands of named individuals. That detail helps the reader see the proposed response as an organized process rather than a single action taken by the whole gathering.
  • Shabbethai is identified as a Levite, a member of the tribe associated with service at the temple. His identification marks his community role while naming him as one of the helpers.
  • The KJV presents the four men as participants in the work. Some other English translations understand the Hebrew as saying they opposed the proposal, rather than assisted with it.

Where else these words appear

“Tikvah” Hebrew H8616 · used in 3 verses

  • 2 Kings 22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe;(now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe;(now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.

“Shabbethai” Hebrew H7678 · used in 3 verses

  • Nehemiah 8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
  • Nehemiah 11:16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

“Asahel” Hebrew H6214 · used in 17 verses

  • 2 Samuel 2:18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
  • 2 Samuel 2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
  • 2 Samuel 23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

“Meshullam” Hebrew H4918 · used in 25 verses

  • 2 Kings 22:3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,
  • 2 Chronicles 34:12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
  • Nehemiah 10:7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,