Who
Grandson of Jechoniah and governor of Judah, who led the first return from Babylon and laid the foundation of the second Temple with the high priest Jeshua (Ezra 2:2; 3:8–10). Haggai brought him God’s word, “I will … make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you” (Haggai 2:23), reversing the curse on Jechoniah’s line, and Zechariah promised that “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it” (Zechariah 4:9). Sirach asks, “How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand” (Sirach 49:11). Both Gospels pass through him.
Key verses
- 1 Chronicles 3:19
The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;
- Ezra 3:8
Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the LORD’s house.
- Sirach 49:11
How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand.
- Haggai 2:23
In that day, says the LORD of Armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of Armies.”
- Zechariah 4:9
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.
- Matthew 1:12
After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
- Matthew 1:13
Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.
- Luke 3:27
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
Where the Bible names him
Named 25 times in 8 books.
- ✓ In the deuterocanon, which the verse index does not cover: found in the text and checked by hand.
Verse index: TIPNR, STEPBible.org (Tyndale House), CC BY 4.0.
Family
- Children
- Brothers and sisters
Notes
The fathers after the Exile
Matthew (1:12) and 1 Chronicles (3:17) make Shealtiel the son of Jechoniah; Luke (3:27) makes him the son of Neri. 1 Chronicles (3:19) names Pedaiah, Shealtiel's brother, as Zerubbabel's father, where both Gospels name Shealtiel; and from Zerubbabel Matthew goes on through Abiud, Luke through Rhesa. The line keeps one Shealtiel and one Zerubbabel, the Zerubbabel who led the return from exile (Ezra 3:2; Haggai 1:1), at whom the two Gospels meet. The explanation usually given follows the pattern Africanus gives for Joseph: one father by nature, the other by law, through adoption or levirate marriage; and Abiud and Rhesa are two sons of Zerubbabel, the one carrying Joseph's natural line, the other his legal line.
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him (8 of 50).
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 1:12–15Catena Aurea on Matthew
After the carrying away, he sets Jeconiah again, as now become a private person.
- Ambrose of Milan on Matthew 1:12–15Catena Aurea on Matthew
Of whom Jeremiah speaks. “Write this man dethroned; for there shall not spring of his seed one sitting on the throne of David.” [Jer 22:30] How is this said of the Prophet, that none of the seed of Jeconias should…
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 1:12–15 (2)Catena Aurea on Matthew
Concerning Salathiel [ed. note, l: This Gloss. from Pseudo-Chrys. is not found in Nicolai’s edition.], we have read nothing either good or bad, but we suppose him to have been a holy man, and in the captivity to have…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 1:12–15Catena Aurea on Matthew
But this seems to contradict the genealogy which is read in Chronicles. For there it is said, that Jeconias begot Salathiel and Phadaias, and Phadaias begot Zorobabel, and Zorobabel Mosollah, Ananias, and Solomith…
- Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:12–15Catena Aurea on Matthew
He is also Zorobabel, that is, ‘the master of confusion,’ according to that, “Your Master eateth with publicans and sinners.” [Matt 9:11] He is Abiud, that is, ‘He is my Father,’ according to that, “I and the Father…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 1:12–15 (2)Catena Aurea on Matthew
He is also Eleazar, i.e. ‘God is my helper,’ as in the seventeenth Psalm, “My God, my helper.” He is also Mathan, that is, ‘giving,’ or, ‘given,’ for, “He gave gifts for men;” [Eph 4:8] and, “God so loved the world,…
- Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:12–15 (2)Catena Aurea on Matthew
He is also Jacob, ‘that supplanteth,’ for not only hath He supplanted the Devil, but hath given His power to His faithful people; as, “Behold I have given you power to tread upon serpents.” [Luke 10:19] He is also…
- Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 1:12–15Catena Aurea on Matthew
But let us see what moral signification these names contain. After Jeconias, which means ‘the preparation of the Lord,’ follows Salathiel, i.e. ‘God is my petition,’ for he who is rightly prepared, prays not but of…