Bible Word Study
זַתּוּא
Zattûwʼ · Zattu, an Israelite
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
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]