בֵּבַי (be.vay)
be.vay
Bebai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Bebai appears in the Hebrew Bible as the identifier for a specific leader among the Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem. Listed in Ezra 2:11 and Nehemiah 7:16, he is recorded as a head of a family or clan during the initial restoration period after the Babylonian captivity. This placement highlights his role as an ancestor or representative within the community that rebuilt the city’s social and religious structures.
Etymologically, the name is interpreted to mean "my cavities" or "hollows," though this literal sense does not carry obvious theological weight in the text itself. The sources note its occurrence only four times, primarily in the genealogical lists of Ezra and Nehemiah, where it serves to authenticate lineage rather than convey a narrative event.
In Ezra 8:11, Bebai is further identified as the father of Zechariah, linking him to later generations involved in the post-exilic community. His inclusion in Nehemiah 10:15 among those who sealed the covenant reaffirms his family’s commitment to the restored laws. The name itself remains a historical marker, anchoring these individuals within the broader story of return and renewal without offering additional symbolic meaning beyond their documented presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bebai appears in the genealogical records of Ezra and Nehemiah, marking a family that returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. These lists might seem like dry history, but they show how God values every individual in His community. Each name represents a real person who chose to stay faithful during a difficult time of restoration.
Being counted among the people of God is not just about ancestry; it is about commitment. The families listed here, including those under Bebai’s name, played a part in re-establishing worship and law in their land. Their story reminds us that our place in God’s family is secure and known.
Today, this word points to the certainty of belonging. Just as these exiles were recorded and remembered, you are known by name. Your life has value in the grand story of redemption, and your faithful steps contribute to the building of God’s kingdom today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Bebai5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּבָ֑י2×
- בֵבָ֔י2×
- בֵבַ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:11
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
This verse establishes Bebai's family as a significant group returning with over six hundred members, showing their substantial role in the initial restoration.
-
Nehemiah 7:16
The children of Bebai: six hundred twenty-eight.
The parallel record here confirms the family's continued presence and identity within the re-established community of Jerusalem.
-
Ezra 8:11
Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.
This mention links Bebai to Zechariah, illustrating how these genealogical lines connected generations involved in the post-exilic revival.