Bible Strands
Nehemiah 11:24
Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records post-exilic administrative appointments for the renewed community in Jerusalem, listing officials who oversee the repopulated territory of Judah.
The words — מִ/בְּנֵי\־ (mi./be.nei-) translates literally as "one of/ [the] descendants of," establishing Pethahiah’s genealogical qualification for his official role.
The thread — The lineage of Zerah connects to Genesis 38:30 and Numbers 26:20, while the phrase for serving at the king’s side echoes 1 Chronicles 18:17.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that post-exilic restoration required verified lineage and royal oversight to govern Judah.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
Cross-references
- Genesis 38:30 Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread around his wrist, and he was named Zerah.
- 1 Chronicles 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
- Numbers 26:20 These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.
- 1 Chronicles 23:28 but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,
- Nehemiah 10:21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
- Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.