זַתּוּא
Zattu, an Israelite
Definition
Zattu is the name of an Israelite man, likely a clan head, who returned from the Babylonian exile. The name appears in lists of those who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:8, Nehemiah 7:13) and later in the list of those who had married foreign wives (Ezra 10:27). He is also listed among those who sealed the covenant of renewal under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:14). In all instances, 'Zattu' functions as a proper name identifying an individual or his family line within the post-exilic community.
Biblical Usage
The name Zattu is used exclusively in post-exilic historical books (Ezra and Nehemiah) within genealogical and census lists. It appears in four verses, always in the context of documenting the returning exiles. In Ezra 2:8 and its parallel in Nehemiah 7:13, it counts the 'sons of Zattu' among the returnees. In Ezra 10:27, descendants of Zattu are listed among those who had taken foreign wives, and in Nehemiah 10:14, a representative seals the renewed covenant.
Etymology
The etymology of זַתּוּא (Zattûwʼ) is uncertain. It is a proper name of unknown derivation, possibly of foreign (non-Hebrew) origin. Some scholars suggest it may be related to a root meaning 'olive' (זַיִת, zayith), but this connection is speculative and not definitive.
Semantic Range
While the name Zattu itself carries no specific theological weight, its consistent appearance in the post-exilic records highlights the theme of God's faithfulness in preserving and restoring His people. The inclusion of Zattu's lineage in the lists of returnees (Ezra 2, Nehemiah 7), the confession of intermarriage (Ezra 10), and the covenant renewal (Nehemiah 10) underscores the importance of maintaining a distinct, covenant-keeping community identity after the exile.
As a personal/clan name from the Persian period, 'Zattu' reflects the practice of recording family lineages to establish legal and religious standing within the restored community in Judah. Being named in these lists affirmed one's place among the people of God and their right to inherit the land. The concern over his descendants marrying foreign wives (Ezra 10:27) highlights the intense cultural and religious struggle to maintain Jewish identity against assimilation.
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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