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Zattu

biblical_proper_name theological_term standard

Zattu is a postexilic family name listed among the Jewish exiles who returned from Babylon.

At a Glance

A postexilic family name appearing in the return and census lists of Ezra-Nehemiah.

Key Points

Description

Zattu is a biblical proper name associated with a family of returned exiles in the postexilic community. The name appears in the genealogical and census-style lists of Ezra and Nehemiah, where the "sons of Zattu" are counted among those who came back from Babylon and later appear in the restored life of the community. These notices help document God’s preservation of His people and the historical rebuilding of Judah after exile, but the term itself does not function as a theological concept. The safest editorial treatment is to recognize Zattu as a person/family-name entry tied to the return narratives rather than to present it as a theological term.

Biblical Context

Zattu appears in Ezra and Nehemiah in return and census lists, where the "sons of Zattu" are counted among those who came back from Babylon and later appear in postexilic reform contexts.

Historical Context

The name belongs to the restored community after the Babylonian exile, when genealogies and family lists helped establish identity, inheritance, and covenant continuity.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Second Temple Jewish life, family registers mattered for communal membership, inheritance, and the orderly rebuilding of the nation after exile.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew name is a proper noun; its exact meaning is uncertain.

Theological Significance

Zattu is a small but concrete witness to God’s preservation of a remnant and the orderly restoration of His people after exile.

Philosophical Explanation

Proper names in Scripture anchor theology in real history and identifiable communities rather than in abstraction.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build doctrine from the name itself. Its significance lies in the historical setting and covenant community, not in speculative etymology.

Major Views

No major interpretive debate attaches to the name itself; discussion usually concerns the census and genealogical lists in Ezra-Nehemiah.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry identifies a biblical family name and should not be treated as a doctrine or allegorical symbol.

Practical Significance

It reminds readers that God notices ordinary families and preserves names in redemptive history.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Zattu

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