Ezra 2:23 (KJV)

What does Ezra 2:23 mean?

Ezra 2:23 records that 128 men from the town of Anathoth returned from exile. This verse is part of a list naming the people and families who came back to Judah after being held captive in Babylon.

Ezra, a Jewish leader and scribe, is presenting a careful record to show who returned to rebuild their homeland. The mention of Anathoth, a small town near Jerusalem, highlights that people from even lesser-known places were included in the restoration of the community. This verse emphasizes the thoroughness of the record and the importance of every group, no matter how small.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 2:23

• אֲנָשִׁים (anashim, "men"): This word refers specifically to male members of the group, indicating that the count is of adult men, not the entire population.
• עֲנָתוֹת (Anathoth, "Anathoth"): This is the name of a town just northeast of Jerusalem, known in other parts of the Bible as a priestly city, which may suggest many returnees were from priestly families.
• מֵאָה (me'ah, "hundred"), עֶשְׂרִים (esrim, "twenty"), שְׁמֹנֶה (shemoneh, "eight"): These numbers are listed separately in Hebrew, showing the exactness and care in counting each group.

Why Ezra 2:23 matters

• Ezra 2:23 shows that the return from exile included people from both large and small towns, underlining the broad scope of the restoration.
• The verse connects to the larger list, demonstrating the importance of every family and community in rebuilding the Jewish nation.
• By naming Anathoth, the verse reminds readers that even places with fewer people played a role in the renewal of the community after exile.