The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.

EZRA 2:38KJV
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Ezra 2:38 (KJV)

What does Ezra 2:38 mean?

Ezra 2:38 lists a group returning from exile: “The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.” This means that 1,247 descendants or members of the family of Pashur came back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.

This verse is part of a census in the book of Ezra, where the writer records the families and groups who returned to Judah from Babylon. The “children of Pashur” refers to a priestly family, and the specific number shows careful record-keeping and the importance of each group in rebuilding the Jewish community.

Why Ezra 2:38 matters

  • Ezra 2:38 shows that the return from exile was organized by family groups, highlighting the importance of heritage and identity in restoring the nation.
  • The verse emphasizes that priestly families, like the descendants of Pashur, were included, which was crucial for reestablishing worship and religious life in Jerusalem.
  • Seeing the exact numbers helps readers understand the scale of the return and the care taken to document each group, which reflects the seriousness of rebuilding both the city and its spiritual life.

Where else these words appear

“Pashur” Hebrew H6583 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:12 And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
  • Nehemiah 10:3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
  • Jeremiah 20:3 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.

“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.