King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
Complete Jewish Bible:
descendants of the other 'Eilam
Berean Standard Bible:
the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;
American Standard Version:
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The children{H1121} of the other{H312} Elam{H5867}, a thousand{H505} two hundred{H3967} fifty{H2572} and four{H702}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezra 2:7
- The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
Nehemiah 7:34
- The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Ezra 2:31
Ezra 2:31 is a verse from a section of the Bible that lists the families and numbers of the Israelites who returned to Jerusalem and Judah after the Babylonian exile. This period of exile occurred because the Israelites had been conquered and taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in the early 6th century BCE. The verse specifically mentions "the children of the other Elam," which refers to a group of people, likely of mixed Israelite and Persian descent, who are distinct from another group mentioned earlier in the chapter as simply "the men of Elam." The number of individuals from this group is noted as "a thousand two hundred fifty and four."
The historical context of this verse is significant because it reflects the broader theme of restoration and return found in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After the fall of Babylon to the Persians, King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed during the conquest. Ezra 2 provides a detailed record of those who responded to this decree, indicating their family groups and the numbers of those who returned.
The specific mention of the children of the other Elam suggests a degree of ethnic diversity among those who returned, highlighting the inclusive nature of this return. It also reflects the complex identities that may have emerged during the exile, as some Israelites intermarried or integrated with the surrounding populations. The meticulous listing of names and numbers serves both a historical and a theological purpose: historically, it documents the participants in this significant event; theologically, it emphasizes God's faithfulness in preserving His people and fulfilling His promise to bring them back to their land. This verse, along with the surrounding chapter, underscores themes of hope, divine providence, and the importance of maintaining a distinct identity as the people of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H312
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחֵר
Transliteration: ʼachêr
Pronunciation: akh-air'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.; (an-) other man, following, next, strange. - Strong's Number: H5867
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵילָם
Transliteration: ʻÊylâm
Pronunciation: ay-lawm'
Description: or עוֹלָם; (Ezra 10:2; Jeremiah 49:36), probably from עָלַם; hidden, i.e. distant; Elam, a son of Shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six Israelites; Elam. - Strong's Number: H505
There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלֶף
Transliteration: ʼeleph
Pronunciation: eh'-lef
Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand. - Strong's Number: H3967
There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֵאָה
Transliteration: mêʼâh
Pronunciation: may-aw'
Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. - Strong's Number: H2572
There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲמִשִּׁים
Transliteration: chămishshîym
Pronunciation: kham-ish-sheem'
Description: multiple of חָמֵשׁ; fifty; fifty. - Strong's Number: H702
There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְבַּע
Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ
Pronunciation: ar-bah'
Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four.