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Zerubbabel

Zerubbabel (or Sheshbazzar), a descendant of David, led the first group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon and oversaw the rebuilding of the temple.

The name Zerubbabel means “a stranger at Babylon; dispersion of confusion”

MaleGovernorTribe of JudahExile and Return eraOld & New Testaments6 books32 verses

Summary

Governor from the tribe of Judah living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1 Chronicles 3:19; referred to as Zerubbabel (זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל, Aramiac זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל), Sheshbazzar (שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר, Aramiac שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר), or Zerubbabel (Ζοροβάβελ); son of Pedaiah; a brother of Shimei; father of Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith, Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed and Abiud.

Profile

Zerubbabel was a Jew born in Babylon. He moved to Judea in 538 BC as the governor of Jerusalem under Persian rule. Cyrus, the king of Persia, allowed Jews who were captured and exiled from Judah to return home. Zerubbabel led one of the first groups of these returning exiles.

Zerubbabel arrived in Judea to rebuild the temple, starting with the altar. Sacrifices could resume once the Holy Place was ready. However, local opposition halted construction. The Judeans lost focus until Haggai and Zechariah's preaching motivated them to restart. Zerubbabel played a key role in leading and organizing the rebuilding, which took about six years, from 520 to 515 BC.

Many people expected great things from Zerubbabel because he was from King David's family (1 Chronicles 3:1–19). Zechariah and Haggai describe Zerubbabel in messianic terms as the one chosen by God to restore Israel (Haggai 2:21–23; Zechariah 4:6–7). However, Zerubbabel soon disappears from the biblical story without explanation. This early governor of Judea was not the Messiah. Instead, Jesus Christ, one of Zerubbabel’s descendants, would take on that glorious role (Matthew 1:12).

Passages for Further Study

Ezra 2:1–6:22; Nehemiah 7:7; Haggai 1:12–2:23; Zechariah 4:1–14; Matthew 1:12

Glossary entries

Sheshbazzar Zerubbabel Zorobabel

Family members

Father

Pedaiah

Siblings

Shimei

Children

Abiud Berechiah Hananiah Hasadiah Hashubah Jushab-hesed Meshullam Ohel Shelomith

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 5 verses that refer to Zerubbabel without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. 1 Chronicles 3:19זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The children of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, their sister Shelomith,
  2. Ezra 1:8שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר · Sheshbazzar
    Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
  3. Ezra 1:11שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר · Sheshbazzar
    In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
  4. Ezra 2:2זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    …accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:
  5. Ezra 3:2זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
  6. Ezra 3:8זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.
  7. Ezra 4:2זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    …they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
  8. Ezra 4:3זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
  9. Ezra 5:2זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
  10. Ezra 5:3Referred to, not named
    At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
  11. Ezra 5:4Referred to, not named
    They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”
  12. Ezra 5:14שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר · Sheshbazzar
    He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor
  13. Ezra 5:15Referred to, not named
    …and instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’
  14. Ezra 5:16שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר · Sheshbazzar
    So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
  15. Nehemiah 7:7זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    …accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:
  16. Nehemiah 12:1זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
  17. Nehemiah 12:47זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron.
  18. Haggai 1:1זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating
  19. Haggai 1:12זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD.
  20. Haggai 1:14זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God,
  21. Haggai 2:2זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them,
  22. Haggai 2:3Referred to, not named
    ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’
  23. Haggai 2:4זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.
  24. Haggai 2:5Referred to, not named
    This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid.”
  25. Haggai 2:21זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:
  26. Haggai 2:23זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”
  27. Zechariah 4:6זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
  28. Zechariah 4:7זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
  29. Zechariah 4:9זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.
  30. Zechariah 4:10זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל · Zerubbabel
    For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
  31. Matthew 1:12Ζοροβάβελ · Zerubbabel
    After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
  32. Matthew 1:13Ζοροβάβελ · Zerubbabel
    Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.