Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

EZRA 10:43KJV
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Ezra 10:43 (KJV)

What does Ezra 10:43 mean?

Ezra 10:43 lists the names of men from the family line of Nebo who were identified in a public record during a time of community correction in Jerusalem. The verse simply names Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, Joel, and Benaiah as sons of Nebo.

This verse is part of a detailed list in the book of Ezra, where leaders are documenting those who had married foreign wives, which was against the community’s religious rules at that time. The listing of these specific names shows the seriousness and transparency of the process, as each family involved was named openly before the community.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 10:43

  • נְבוֹ (Nebo, transliterated "Nebo") refers to a family or clan, likely named after an ancestor, showing how lineage was tracked and recorded in ancient Israel.
  • Each personal name—יְעִיאֵל (Jeiel, "Jeiel"), מַתִּתְיָה (Mattithiah, "Mattithiah"), זָבָד (Zabad, "Zabad"), זְבִינָא (Zebina, "Zebina"), יָדָי (Jadau, "Jadau"), יוֹאֵל (Joel, "Joel"), and בְּנָיָה (Benaiah, "Benaiah")—is included to make the record specific and personal, not just a general accusation against a group.

Why Ezra 10:43 matters

  • This verse shows that the restoration of the community involved careful and public accountability, not just vague statements.
  • By naming individuals, Ezra’s record emphasizes the importance of each person’s choices and the communal effort to return to their religious commitments.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by illustrating the thoroughness of the reforms and the willingness of the people to address difficult issues openly.

Where else these words appear

“Jadau” Hebrew H3035 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 27:21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:

“Mattithiah” Hebrew H4993 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

“Zabad” Hebrew H2066 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 2:36 And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,
  • 1 Chronicles 7:21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
  • 2 Chronicles 24:26 And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

“Jeiel” Hebrew H3273 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 5:7 And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
  • 1 Chronicles 15:18 And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.
  • 2 Chronicles 26:11 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.