Who was Zerubbabel in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Zerubbabel?

Zerubbabel, also known as Sheshbazzar, was a descendant of King David who played a crucial role in the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He is mentioned in various books of the Old Testament, including 1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah. Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia. He is listed among the leaders who returned and is credited with laying the foundation of the temple. Despite facing opposition from the Samaritans and others, Zerubbabel, along with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, encouraged the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple. He is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing his importance in the messianic lineage. Zerubbabel's leadership and dedication were instrumental in reestablishing Jewish worship in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

Where does Zerubbabel appear in the Bible?

Zerubbabel is referenced in 23 verses across 6 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 3:19
• Ezra 2:2
• Ezra 3:2
• Ezra 3:8
• Ezra 4:2
• Ezra 4:3
• Ezra 5:2
• Haggai 1:1
• Haggai 1:12
• Haggai 1:14
• Haggai 2:2
• Haggai 2:4
• Haggai 2:21
• Haggai 2:23
• Matthew 1:12
• Matthew 1:13
• Nehemiah 7:7
• Nehemiah 12:1
• Nehemiah 12:47
• Zechariah 4:6
• Zechariah 4:7
• Zechariah 4:9
• Zechariah 4:10

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Zerubbabel.