Ezra 10:27 (KJV)

What does Ezra 10:27 mean?

Ezra 10:27 lists six men—Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza—who were descendants of Zattu and are named as part of a group involved in a specific situation addressed in this chapter. The verse is part of a longer list identifying individuals among the returned exiles who had taken foreign wives, which was being addressed by the community leaders.

In the setting of Ezra 10, Ezra is leading the people of Israel in a process of confession and reform after discovering that many had married women from surrounding nations, which was against the community’s covenant. The list, including the sons of Zattu in verse 27, serves as a public record of those who were willing to acknowledge their actions and participate in the community’s effort to return to their commitments.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 10:27

• בְּנֵי (bənê, "sons"): This word refers to male descendants or members of a family line, emphasizing the importance of family and tribal identity in Israel’s records.
• זַתּוּא (Zattu): The name identifies a specific family group among the returned exiles, showing that the issue affected multiple clans.
• Each personal name—אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי (Elioenai), אֶלְיָשִׁיב (Eliashib), מַתַּנְיָה (Mattaniah), יְרֵמוֹת (Jeremoth), זָבָד (Zabad), and עֲזִיזָא (Aziza)—marks individual accountability within the broader family, highlighting that the reform was both communal and personal.

Why Ezra 10:27 matters

• The verse shows that the process of confession and reform was specific and transparent, naming individuals and families rather than treating the issue in vague terms.
• By listing the sons of Zattu, Ezra 10:27 demonstrates that the problem of intermarriage was widespread, affecting many different family groups among the returned exiles.
• This record connects to the larger theme of Ezra 10, where the community takes collective responsibility for its actions and seeks to realign itself with its covenant identity.