Who was Col-hozeh in the Bible?

Col-hozeh was a man from the tribe of Judah and the father of a man named Baruch. He is listed as an ancestor of Maaseiah, one of the leaders who resettled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:5).

What is the significance of Col-hozeh?

His significance lies in his lineage, as his descendant Maaseiah was chosen by lot to live in the repopulated Jerusalem. This highlights how God preserved faithful families to restore the community after the exile.

What key events was Col-hozeh part of?

Col-hozeh himself is not directly part of any narrated events. The key event associated with his name is the resettlement of Jerusalem by his descendant, which was a crucial part of Nehemiah's restoration project for the returned exiles (Nehemiah 11:1-4).

Col-hozeh

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned from exile

Col-hozeh was an ancestor of Maaseiah, who settled in Jerusalem after the exile. (Neh.11.5)

Col-hozeh

Biography

A second figure named Col-hozeh appears in Nehemiah 11:5, listed in the genealogy of Maaseiah son of Baruch, who was among the Judahites who voluntarily settled in Jerusalem after the city's walls were rebuilt. The repopulation of Jerusalem was a significant undertaking in the post-exilic restoration, as the city remained sparsely inhabited even after the walls were completed. Nehemiah 11:1-2 records that the leaders settled in Jerusalem while the people cast lots to bring one in ten from the outlying towns. This Col-hozeh may be the same figure as the one mentioned in Nehemiah 3:15, or may represent a distinct ancestor within the same family line. Either way, his descendants contributed to the vital work of resettling and reviving the holy city.

Significance

The voluntary resettlement of Jerusalem described in Nehemiah 11 represents an act of covenant devotion, even sacrifice, since the city remained vulnerable and under-resourced. Those who chose to live within its walls, including the descendants of Col-hozeh, are honored in the text as people whom others blessed for their willingness (Nehemiah 11:2). This Col-hozeh's place in Maaseiah's genealogy thus connects a family line to the restoration of the covenant community in its sacred center. Theologically, this resettlement foreshadows the ultimate gathering of God's people in the new Jerusalem, where the faithful from every generation will dwell in the presence of God.

Verse Appearances (1)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 11:5

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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