לְבָנָא

לְבָנָא

Lebana or Lebanah, one of the Nethinim

Definition

Lebana (or Lebanah) is a proper name referring to an individual listed among the Nethinim, a class of temple servants, in the post-exilic community. The name appears in identical lists in Ezra 2:45 and Nehemiah 7:48, which record the families who returned from the Babylonian exile. As a personal name, it does not carry multiple senses, but simply identifies this specific individual within the genealogical and communal records of the restoration period.

Biblical Usage

The word is used exclusively in two parallel passages: Ezra 2:45 and Nehemiah 7:48. In both contexts, it functions solely as a proper name within a list of the 'sons of' or families of the Nethinim. This pattern shows its use was strictly for genealogical and administrative record-keeping, identifying a specific clan or family head among the temple servants who returned to Judah.

Etymology

The name לְבָנָא (Lᵉbânâʼ) or its variant לְבָנָה is directly related to the Hebrew word לְבָנָה (lᵉbânâh, H3842), meaning 'white' or 'the moon' (from its white appearance). It is derived from the root לבן (lbn), associated with whiteness. As a personal name, it likely carried a descriptive or symbolic meaning, such as 'white' or 'pure,' common in Semitic naming conventions.

Semantic Range

While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion highlights the biblical theme of God's faithfulness in preserving and restoring all parts of His worship community, including the often-overlooked temple servants (the Nethinim). Understanding that even minor names in genealogies represent real people in God's redemptive plan enriches reading by emphasizing the value of every individual in the biblical narrative and the meticulous continuity of God's people. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful, describing a characteristic, hope, or circumstance. 'Lebana,' meaning 'white,' may have denoted purity, brightness, or been associated with the moon. As a Nethinim, this individual belonged to a hereditary class of temple assistants, originally likely composed of foreigners (e.g., Gibeonites, Joshua 9:27) or war captives dedicated to serving the Levites. Their listing in the return records signifies their integral, though subordinate, role in the restored worship system. לְבָנָה (lᵉbânâh, H3842) — The common noun meaning 'moon' or 'white,' from which the personal name is derived.

Word Details