The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.

EZRA 2:25KJV
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Ezra 2:25 (KJV)

What does Ezra 2:25 mean?

Ezra 2:25 lists the descendants from the towns of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, numbering 743 people who returned from exile. This verse is part of a census recording the families and groups who came back to Judah after the Babylonian captivity.

Ezra is recounting the names and numbers of those who returned to Jerusalem and Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel. The verse specifically names three towns and gives the total number of people from those places. This careful record-keeping shows the importance of each community in rebuilding the nation and restoring its identity.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 2:25

  • בְּנֵי (bənê, H1121): This word means "children" or "descendants." Here, it refers to the people or families originating from each named town, emphasizing their shared heritage.
  • קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (Qiryath-ye'arim, H7157), כְּפִירָה (Kefirah, H3716), בְּאֵרוֹת (Be'eroth, H881): These are the original Hebrew names of the towns. Their mention highlights the specific origins of the returning families, showing the diversity and spread of the exiles.
  • שֶׁבַע (sheva‘, H7651), מֵאוֹת (me’ot, H3967), אַרְבָּעִים (arba‘im, H705), שָׁלוֹשׁ (shalosh, H7969): These words together make up the number 743. The exact count underlines the historical accuracy and the value placed on each individual and family.

Why Ezra 2:25 matters

  • This verse helps clarify that the return from exile was organized by family and hometown, not just by tribe or individual, showing the importance of local identity in ancient Israel.
  • The specific mention of these towns and their people connects the restoration of the community to real places and histories, grounding the story in concrete reality.
  • By recording the numbers so precisely, Ezra emphasizes the careful restoration process and the value of each group in rebuilding the life of the nation after a long period of displacement.

Where else these words appear

“Chephirah” Hebrew H3716 · used in 4 verses

  • Joshua 9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
  • Joshua 18:26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
  • Nehemiah 7:29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.

“Beeroth” Hebrew H881 · used in 5 verses

  • Joshua 9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
  • Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
  • 2 Samuel 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

“Kirjatharim” Hebrew H7157 · used in 19 verses

  • Joshua 9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
  • Judges 18:12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:53 And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.

“forty” Hebrew H705 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 5:13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
  • Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.