עַתְלַי (at.lay)
at.lay
Athlai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Atalai, or Athlai, appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in Ezra 10:28 as a member of the community that returned from exile. He is identified specifically as a son of Bebai, one of the men who took responsibility for ending marriages with foreign wives during Ezra’s reforms. This brief mention places him at the center of a pivotal moment when the returning exiles sought to redefine their identity and covenant fidelity.
Etymologically, the name is generally understood to mean "whom Jehovah afflicts" or "afflicted by God." While some sources suggest alternative roots meaning "exalted," the dominant interpretation links the personal name to divine discipline. In the context of Ezra 10, this meaning carries a poignant irony: Atalai’s name reflects affliction, yet his action—putting away his foreign wife—is presented as an act of obedience that removes the cause of that spiritual distress.
Although the text does not elaborate on his personal feelings or the specific nature of his "affliction," his inclusion in the list highlights the collective burden of the post-exilic community. The name serves as a reminder that even those who suffered under God’s judgment were part of the group working toward restoration. Atalai stands not as a theological figure, but as a historical participant in the difficult process of rebuilding Israel’s religious boundaries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Atalai appears in a list of men who took difficult steps to restore their community’s faithfulness after returning from exile. His story reminds us that following God often requires hard choices, even when those choices involve personal loss or social tension. In Ezra 10:28, he is named among the sons of Bebai who ended marriages with foreign wives, a decision made to protect the spiritual integrity of the returned community.
While we may not face the same cultural pressures as that ancient group, Atalai’s example invites us to consider how we prioritize our relationship with God. It challenges us to examine whether any relationships or habits might be pulling us away from wholehearted devotion. This is not about legalism, but about guarding the heart’s primary loyalty.
His inclusion in Scripture shows that ordinary people play vital roles in God’s larger story of restoration. You are part of a long line of believers who have made costly decisions to stay faithful. May you find strength in knowing that your efforts to honor God, however small they seem, are recorded and valued by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Athlai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַתְלָֽי\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 10:28
Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
This verse lists Atalai among the men who took specific action to end mixed marriages, highlighting his active role in the community’s covenant renewal.