### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Qêyrôç**, represented by `{{H7026}}`, identifies **Keros, one of the Nethinim**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. The name itself is defined as "ankled" and is used to name a specific individual whose descendants were part of the community that returned to Jerusalem after the exile.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7026}}` is used exclusively within genealogical lists to document the families returning from Babylon. The name appears in two parallel passages, Ezra and Nehemiah, which both catalog the returning exiles. In these contexts, the text specifically mentions "The children of **Keros**" ([[Ezra 2:44]]; [[Nehemiah 7:47]]), establishing him as the patriarch of a recognized family line within the community.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear in the same verse, providing context for the family of Keros:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (a son): This word precedes the name Keros in both of its occurrences, in the phrase "The children of Keros," signifying lineage and descent [[Ezra 2:44]].
* `{{H5517}}` **Çîyʻâʼ** (Sia or Siaha, one of the Nethinim): The head of another family of Nethinim, listed immediately after the family of Keros, indicating their shared status and context [[Nehemiah 7:47]].
* `{{H6303}}` **Pâdôwn** (Padon, one of the Nethinim): The patriarch of a third family of Nethinim, whose children are listed alongside those of Keros and Sia, further defining this group of returnees [[Ezra 2:44]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H7026}}` is rooted in its role within the post-exilic community.
* **Inclusion in the Restoration:** The mention of the family of Keros confirms their place among the people of Israel who were part of the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple ([[Ezra 2:44]]; [[Nehemiah 7:47]]).
* **Patriarchal Identity:** The consistent use of the phrase "the children of Keros" underscores the importance of ancestry and family identity in structuring the community after the exile, with Keros being a recognized founder of a family unit.
* **Association with the Nethinim:** The definition of Keros as "one of the Nethinim" links his family to this specific class of people who served in roles associated with the temple.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7026}}` is the proper name Keros, the patriarch of a family of Nethinim. Its two appearances in Scripture are vital for a specific historical purpose: to document the lineage of those who returned from the Babylonian exile. The name's importance is not in a broad theological concept but in its precise function of identifying a specific family and their place in the restored nation of Israel.
TRV