Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that a priest, of all people, chose to adopt the name of his wife's wealthy and noble family. This wasn't just a minor name change; it signaled a prioritizing of worldly status and connection over his sacred priestly lineage, ultimately causing his descendants to be disqualified from service.
Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage continues the list of those returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, specifically detailing priestly families. It highlights one family, the descendants of Barzillai, whose ancestor married a woman from the distinguished family of the historical Barzillai the Gileadite and took her family name. This choice, driven by a desire to associate with nobility, ultimately leads to questions about their priestly lineage in the following verse.
Some priests returning from exile couldn't prove their lineage. This verse highlights one specific case that led to disqualification.
Prioritizing Earthly Status
This verse introduces a priestly family, the descendants of Barzillai, who faced a dilemma regarding their identity. Barzillai the Gileadite was a prominent and wealthy figure who supported King David. When one of his descendants married a woman from this esteemed family, he adopted her family's name.
Why would a priest do this?
Why are these genealogies so important? This verse, and the entire book of Ezra, shows us God's meticulous care in preserving His people and His promises.
Preserving the Messianic Line
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The meticulous record-keeping in Ezra, especially concerning priestly and lay families, wasn't just about administrative order. It was deeply connected to God's overarching plan.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting the male descendants of a family or clan, often used to establish lineage, inheritance, and social identity within the covenant community.
kohen · Hebrew Noun
Individuals consecrated for service to God, responsible for offering sacrifices, maintaining the temple, and performing priestly duties on behalf of the people.
This verse highlights the challenges of maintaining priestly lineage and identity after the trauma of exile. Marrying into a prominent, non-priestly family and adopting their name, as described here, demonstrates how social status and perceived honor could overshadow spiritual heritage, leading to genealogical confusion that disqualified individuals from priestly service.
c. 1000 BC
Barzillai Aids David
Barzillai the Gileadite, a wealthy and influential man, generously supports King David and his army during their flight from Absalom's rebellion.
c. 970 BC
Chimham Accompanies David
Barzillai's son, Chimham, chooses to stay with David in Jerusalem, indicating a continued connection between his family and the royal line.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport many Judeans, disrupting Jewish society and record-keeping.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus' Decree and Return
King Cyrus allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, marking the beginning of the Second Temple period.
c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra's Commission to Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe and priest, leads a group of exiles back to Judah with a commission from the Persian king to restore religious order.
This passage directly addresses the consequence of honoring oneself or one's family over God, warning that those who do will be cut off, mirroring the disqualification of the priest in Ezra who prioritized family name over his priestly lineage.
2 Samuel 19:32-40This passage introduces Barzillai the Gileadite, the noble figure whose family name was so esteemed that a priest later adopted it, highlighting the significant social standing that led to the conflation of lineage in Ezra's account.
1 Corinthians 10:31The principle here, to do all things for God's glory, stands in stark contrast to the priest in Ezra who, by taking a prestigious family name, seemed to seek glory for himself and his earthly connections rather than for God and his priestly calling.
Philippians 3:7-9Paul's radical re-evaluation of his own impressive heritage and lineage in favor of Christ emphasizes the spiritual truth that worldly honors and names (like Barzillai's) pale in comparison to belonging to God, a theme echoed by the priest's forfeiture of his spiritual status.
henryEzra 2:36-63: "The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three."
2:36-63 Those who undervalue their relation to the Lord in times of reproach, persecution, or distress, will have no benefit from it when it becomes honourable or profitable. Those who have no evidence that they are, by the new birth, spiritual priests unto God, through Jesus Christ, have no right to the comforts and privileges of Christians.
pooleEzra 2:61: "And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:"
To wit, Barzillai; which name he preferred before that of his own family, accounting it, as it seems, a greater honour to be allied to so noble a family, than to be a priest of the Lord. But by this ambition he deprived himself of the honour and advantage of the priesthood, as it…
What's striking here is that a priest, of all people, chose to adopt the name of his wife's wealthy and noble family. This wasn't just a minor name change; it signaled a prioritizing of worldly status and connection over his sacred priestly lineage, ultimately causing his descendants to be disqualified from service.
This passage continues the list of those returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, specifically detailing priestly families. It highlights one family, the descendants of Barzillai, whose ancestor married a woman from the distinguished family of the historical Barzillai the Gileadite and took her family name. This choice, driven by a desire to associate with nobility, ultimately leads to questions about their priestly lineage in the following verse.
This passage continues the list of those returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, specifically detailing priestly families. It highlights one family, the descendants of Barzillai, whose ancestor married a woman from the distinguished family of the historical Barzillai the Gileadite and took her family name. This choice, driven by a desire to associate with nobility, ultimately leads to questions about their priestly lineage in the following verse.
"Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name)." — What's striking here is that a priest, of all people, chose to adopt the name of his wife's wealthy and noble family. This wasn't just a minor name change; it signaled a prioritizing of worldly statu…
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Last reviewed October 2026