Ezra 2:11 (KJV)

What does Ezra 2:11 mean?

Ezra 2:11 records that 623 descendants of Bebai returned from exile to Jerusalem. This verse is part of a list naming families and the number of their members who came back to Judah after the Babylonian captivity.

This list was compiled as the Jewish people returned from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Each family group is counted to show who came back to rebuild their community. The verse highlights the careful record-keeping and the importance of each family in restoring the nation.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 2:11

• בְּנֵי (bənê, H1121): This word means "children" or "descendants." Here, it refers to the family or clan members descended from Bebai, not just literal children.
• בֵּבַי (Bebai, H893): This is a personal name, identifying the head of the family group. The verse shows that Bebai’s descendants were among those returning.
• שֵׁשׁ (shesh, H8337), מֵאוֹת (me’ot, H3967), עֶשְׂרִים (esrim, H6242), שָׁלוֹשׁ (shalosh, H7969): These words together form the number 623. The original Hebrew lists numbers in a sequence, which was the common way to count people in ancient records.

Why Ezra 2:11 matters

• Ezra 2:11 shows the importance of every family in the restoration of Israel, emphasizing that the return from exile was a community effort, not just the work of leaders.
• The verse helps readers see how carefully the returning exiles were counted and organized, reflecting a concern for identity and continuity after a long period away from their homeland.
• By naming specific families, the passage connects individual people to the larger story of God’s faithfulness in bringing His people back to their land.