What Does Ezra 10:43 Mean in the King James?

Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

Ezra 10:43 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The roster begins with “sons” and ends with Benaiah, “Yah has built”, so lineage is framed by the language of formation.

THE MEANING

The line holds individual names inside a shared belonging: they are named one by one, then gathered as “sons of Nebo.” Its final name, Benaiah (⁨בְּנָיָה⁩, Bənāyāh, “Yah has built”), leaves the roster with an image of formation. The verse still speaks wherever a person’s name sits inside a larger story of belonging.

THE ROOT

בְּנָיָה

Bənāyāh

GROWS FROM

בנה

Build, construct, establish

Benaiah carries the sense “Yah has built.” That name lands at the end of a line introduced as “sons,” making the roster’s language of lineage echo the language of building.

ALSO GROWS

banah: to build, establish

בָּנָה

This verb names the action held inside Benaiah’s name.

binyan: building, structure

בִּנְיָן

This noun makes the same root’s architectural sense explicit.

THE PATTERN

Scripture describes households and communities as built through relationship and divine agency.

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:2 · KJVSarai’s hope for children is voiced with the Hebrew build-verb, so descendants are pictured as a household being formed.

A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalm 127:1 · KJVA household’s building is placed within the LORD’s sustaining work.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18 · KJVThe assembly is described as something built, extending the household image into communal life.

THE THREAD

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:2 · KJV

The KJV renders the phrase as “obtain children,” while the Hebrew says “I may be built from her,” using ⁨בָּנָה⁩ (banah, “build”). This draws “sons” and the name Benaiah into the same image of a household being formed.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us