Zabbai

זַבַּי/ZAB-eye/

“Pure or my gift”

Summary

A name borne by two Israelites in the post-exilic period, one who divorced his foreign wife and another whose son helped rebuild Jerusalem's wall.

☩Zabbai Son of Bebai

This Zabbai was a descendant of Bebai who had married a foreign wife after the return from Babylonian exile. At Ezra's command, he put away his Gentile wife along with others who had violated the prohibition against intermarriage.

Key verses:Ezra 10:28

☩Father of Baruch

Another Zabbai was the father of Baruch, who earnestly helped repair a section of Jerusalem's wall during Nehemiah's rebuilding project. Some scholars suggest this Zabbai may be the same person as Zaccai mentioned in Ezra 2:9.

Key verses:Nehemiah 3:20

Related Verses2 mentions

Ezra· 1 verse

10:28

Nehemiah· 1 verse

3:20

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Zabbai," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
2.James Orr (ed.), "Zabbai," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).