Ezra 10:27
And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Original Language Analysis
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י
And of the sons
H1121
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י
And of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֶלְיֽוֹעֵנַ֤י
Elioenai
H454
אֶלְיֽוֹעֵנַ֤י
Elioenai
Strong's:
H454
Word #:
3 of 8
eljehoenai or eljoenai, the name of seven israelites
וִֽירֵמ֔וֹת
and Jeremoth
H3406
וִֽירֵמ֔וֹת
and Jeremoth
Strong's:
H3406
Word #:
6 of 8
jerimoth or jeremoth, the name of twelve israelites
Historical Context
The Zattu clan numbered 945 members at the return (Ezra 2:8). Six violators from this mid-sized family suggests proportionally significant compromise. The period following the exile (458 BC) saw economic pressure to intermarry with landed populations who had occupied Judah during the captivity. These marriages often represented pragmatic attempts to secure property and social standing rather than faith-driven covenant violations, yet pragmatism proved equally destructive to holy community.
Questions for Reflection
- How do names emphasizing "eyes toward Yahweh" challenge believers about whether their actual focus matches their professed devotion?
- What does the tension between divine "restoration" (Eliashib) and human attempts to secure future through compromise teach about faith versus pragmatism?
- In what areas might contemporary Christians compromise covenant faithfulness for economic security or social advantage?
Analysis & Commentary
And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. The Zattu (זַתּוּא, Zattu', possibly meaning "olive tree") family contributed six members to the transgression list. Elioenai (אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי, "my eyes are toward Yahweh") and Eliashib (אֶלְיָשִׁיב, "God restores") both contain theophoric elements emphasizing divine focus and restoration, yet their bearers looked to foreign wives rather than covenant faithfulness, seeking restoration through human strategy rather than divine provision.
The name Zabad (זָבָד, "he has given") likely refers to divine gift, while Aziza (עֲזִיזָא, "strong" or "powerful") suggests strength—yet true strength lay in covenant obedience, not in political alliances through intermarriage. The recurrence of Mattaniah and Jeremoth across multiple families indicates these were common names in post-exilic community, showing the sin's pervasiveness cut across social boundaries. The olive tree imagery of Zattu's name evokes covenant blessing (Psalm 128:3), now endangered by syncretistic unfaithfulness.