Who was Zebadiah in the Bible?

Zebadiah was the son of Michael and a leader among the exiles who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Ezra. He is specifically noted for leading a group of 80 men in this return journey (Ezra 8:8).

What is the significance of Zebadiah's return with Ezra?

His return was part of the second wave of exiles returning to Judah to rebuild the nation and restore worship. As a leader of a sizable group, Zebadiah played a role in re-establishing the Jewish community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

What does the Bible tell us about Zebadiah's life?

The Bible records his lineage as the son of Michael and his key action: leading 80 men back to Jerusalem. This brief mention highlights his faithfulness and leadership during a pivotal moment of restoration for Israel (Ezra 8:8).

Zebadiah

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLeader

Zebadiah, son of Michael, led a group of 80 men who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra after the Babylonian exile.

Zebadiah

Biography

Zebadiah son of Michael was a clan leader of the descendants of Shephatiah who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra during the second great wave of exiles from Babylon (Ezra 8:8). He led a group of eighty men of his family on the journey, which Ezra describes as a remarkable act of faith, traveling without military escort, trusting solely in God's protection (Ezra 8:21-23). The group departed from the Ahava Canal following a period of fasting and prayer and arrived safely in Jerusalem, bringing with them offerings for the temple. Zebadiah's leadership of eighty men reflects a position of significant family authority and communal trust within the returnee community.

Significance

Zebadiah's return with eighty men under his leadership is a small but vivid episode within the larger drama of Israel's restoration. Ezra's deliberate choice to make the journey without armed escort, proclaimed publicly before the Persian king, was a theological statement: God's people were in God's hands. That Zebadiah and others answered the call to return despite the dangers of the long journey testifies to the enduring power of the covenant's gravitational pull on dispersed Israel. His story illustrates the courage required of those who step out in faith to participate in God's redemptive purposes, trusting divine protection over human security.

Verse Appearances (1)

Ezra

Ezra 8:8

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources