Ezra 2:7
What does Ezra 2:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 2:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 2:7 means
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four, are counted next. Elam appears twice in this chapter, suggesting two distinct family lines bearing the same ancestral name (see v. 31). This number indicates a strong presence, contributing to the manpower and stability needed in the newly resettled Judah. Recording them preserves their identity and honors their commitment. The mention reinforces the theme that restoration involved cooperation of many sizable clans, each bringing their people, resources, and skills into a common effort to rebuild the ruined cities and reestablish regular worship under leadership that God had raised up.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The children of Elam, a thousand, two hundred and fifty-four.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four.
Context
The list continues with another large family group, reinforcing the scale of the return. Readers should notice occasional name repetitions later, which reflect different sub-lines rather than duplication. In this stage (vv. 3–20), the focus stays on family-group counts. Soon the catalog will shift to geographic origin (vv. 21–35), then to temple-related personnel (vv. 36–58). This structure helps the audience grasp the breadth and depth of the restoration across kinship and locality.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 2:31
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
- Nehemiah 7:12
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
- Ezra 8:7
And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.
- Ezra 10:26
And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.