מִסְפָּר
Mispar, an Israelite
Definition
Mispar is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man who returned from the Babylonian exile. The name appears only in Ezra 2:2 (and its parallel in Nehemiah 7:7, where the name is given as Mispereth). He is listed among the leaders of the returning exiles, signifying his role as a community representative. The name itself is derived from the common Hebrew word for 'number,' which may suggest a personal or familial association with counting, record-keeping, or perhaps a hope for being part of a numbered, significant group.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a personal name in the Old Testament. It appears in the historical list of Ezra 2:2, which records the leaders of the first group of Israelites returning to Jerusalem from captivity. The parallel account in Nehemiah 7:7 uses a feminine form of the name, Mispereth (H4559), for what is likely the same individual, a variation not uncommon in genealogical records.
Etymology
Mispar is identical to the common masculine noun מִסְפָּר (mispar, H4457), meaning 'number, tally, or recounting.' It is derived from the root סָפַר (sāphar, H5608), meaning 'to count, recount, or tell.' As a proper name, it utilizes this common word, a practice seen in other Hebrew names that reflect attributes, hopes, or professions (e.g., Zaccur, meaning 'remembered').
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its appearance is significant within the theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Mispar is listed among those returning from exile, fulfilling the prophecies of restoration (e.g., Jeremiah 29:10). His name, meaning 'number,' subtly underscores the meticulous fulfillment of God's plan—the exiles were counted, recorded, and brought back, demonstrating God's care for His people as individuals within a covenant community.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning related to circumstances, hopes, or divine attributes. Naming a child 'Number' (Mispar) might reflect a parent's gratitude for the child's birth (as one added to the family count), a connection to a lineage of record-keepers, or a hope for the child to be significant and counted among the people of God. Its use in a post-exilic list highlights the importance of genealogy and identity for the restored community.
Mispereth (מִסְפֶּרֶת, H4559) — The feminine form of the same name, used for the same individual in Nehemiah 7:7.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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