לְבָנָא (le.va.na)
le.va.na
Lebanah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Lebanah, meaning “moon-white,” identifies a specific patriarch from the period of the Babylonian exile and return. According to Ezra 2:45 and Nehemiah 7:48, he was the head of a family that resettled in Jerusalem under Zerubbabel’s leadership. The sources note a minor textual variation, with Nehemiah spelling it Lebana, but both refer to the same individual.
Though this figure appears only twice in Scripture, his name carries symbolic weight. “Lebanah” derives from the Hebrew root for white or brightness, evoking the light of the moon. In the context of the returnees, such names often reflected hope or divine favor during a time of rebuilding. The brevity of his mention highlights how ordinary families formed the backbone of post-exilic Judah, their identities preserved in genealogical records rather than narrative drama.
Translators typically render the name as “Lebanah” or “Lebana,” preserving its phonetic distinctiveness without adding interpretive gloss. This consistency across Ezra and Nehemiah underscores the careful transmission of these lists, which served to reestablish tribal and familial ties after decades in captivity. The word itself remains a quiet marker of identity rather than a theological statement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Lebanah means "moon-white," a name that appears in the genealogical records of Ezra and Nehemiah. It identifies a patriarch whose family returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. While his story is not told in narrative form, his inclusion in these lists reminds us that God remembers every individual who sought to restore their community.
This word highlights the quiet faithfulness of ordinary families during a time of rebuilding. Their identities were preserved in careful records, showing that God values each person's place in His people. The name itself evokes brightness and hope, reflecting the light that guided them back to their homeland.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Lebanah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְבָנָ֥ה2×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:45
the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
This verse lists Lebanah as a family head among those who returned under Zerubbabel, showing his role in reestablishing tribal ties.
-
Nehemiah 7:48
the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
Here the name appears as Lebana, confirming the same individual and underscoring the careful preservation of family identities after exile.