What Does Ezra 2:53 Mean in the King James?
The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
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 Hebrew word for “children” is linked to the root “to build,” so these family names form the living structure of a people.
THE MEANING
Your place in a people is carried through relationship and remembrance, even when the record gives no biography beside your name. The repeated naming keeps each household visible as part of a larger whole. You are counted in the web of belonging, not only by what you achieve.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that only the famous or fully explained belong: these households are named and counted without deeds or biographies attached.
THE ROOT
בְּנֵי
benei
GROWS FROM
בנה
b-n-h
To build, construct, or establish; ben, “son” or “child,” is traditionally linked with this root as one through whom a household is built.
The repeated benei (“children of”) carries more than descent: it is linked with banah, “to build.” The list lets these households appear as a people’s structure, formed through named branches.
ALSO GROWS
banah: To build, build up, or establish.
בָּנָה
This verb shares the root associated with ben, the family word beneath the repeated “children of.”
ben: Son, child, or member of a family line.
בֵּן
The verse uses the plural construct benei to identify each household through descent.
binyan: Building or structure.
בִּנְיָן
This branch makes visible the building sense carried by the family word: each named line belongs to the structure of a people.
THE PATTERN
Belonging is made visible when each life is known and named.
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.THE THREAD
And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.The Hebrew verb translated “build” shares the root linked with ben, “son” or “child.” Ezra’s repeated “children of” gives that family word a living shape: a people’s house is made through its named lines.
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