מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵל (me.she.zav.el)
me.she.zav.el
Meshezabel
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 Meshezabel, meaning "God delivers," appears in Nehemiah to identify several men who played key roles in restoring Jerusalem after the exile. The text links this name to different individuals: an ancestor of Meshullam who helped rebuild the city wall (Nehemiah 3:4), a leader who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:21), and the father of Pethahiah, a descendant of Judah (Nehemiah 11:24).
While scholars often suggest these might be the same person holding various titles, the text treats them as distinct figures within the community’s history. The name itself reflects a theological hope common in that era, emphasizing divine rescue and protection. Its presence in lists of builders and covenant signers highlights how ordinary citizens contributed to the spiritual and physical renewal of their city.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Meshezabel carries a simple but powerful meaning: God delivers. In Nehemiah, this name appears attached to men who were not distant leaders, but neighbors working with their own hands to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and restore the community’s identity. Their labor was physical, yet it carried deep spiritual weight, showing that divine rescue often works through human effort.
When we read about Meshullam son of Meshezabel repairing a section of the wall, or Pethahiah serving at the king’s hand, we see ordinary people stepping up when it mattered most. Their lives remind us that God uses everyday faithfulness to bring about renewal. Whether you are rebuilding something broken in your own life or supporting others in their work, this name points to a reliable hope: God is present in the repair.
These accounts encourage us to view our daily tasks as part of a larger story of restoration. Just as these men contributed to Jerusalem’s recovery, your steady faithfulness matters in God’s hands. There is comfort in knowing that deliverance is not always a dramatic event; sometimes it is the quiet result of many people showing up and doing their part.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Meshezabel2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵ֑ל\ \ס1×
- מְשֵֽׁיזַבְאֵ֜ל1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:4
Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
This verse identifies Meshullam as the son of Meshezabel, linking the name to active participation in rebuilding the wall, which demonstrates how the concept of God's deliverance was lived out through practical labor.
-
Nehemiah 11:24
Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
Here Pethahiah is called the son of Meshezabel, showing that the name appears in lists of officials who maintained order and justice, highlighting the role of faithful leadership in sustaining community life.