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זַבַּי

𐤆𐤁𐤉

Zabay

H2079 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, possibly 'to be pure' or 'to be clean' (if related to root זכה), but textual form uncertain

Definition

Zabbay is a personal name of an Israelite individual attested during the post-exilic period. Its primary lexical function is as a proper noun designating a specific person; the precise meaning of the name is unclear due to uncertainty regarding its etymological root. The name appears within genealogical lists, denoting family or clan association.

Semantic Range

personal name of an Israelite individual in post-exilic genealogies, possibly related to the idea of being pure or innocent (if connected to זכה), but as a name its use is as a specific identifier rather than conveying that meaning directly

Root / Etymology

The etymology is uncertain. Some suggest it should be vocalized and spelled as זַכַּי (Zakkay), possibly meaning 'pure, innocent' from the root זכה (to be clean, to be pure), but the textual form זַבַּי is distinct in the Masoretic Text. It is possible that it is a scribal or orthographic variant deriving from a different root, but no consensus exists.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Zabbay (זַבַּי) occurs in Nehemiah 3:20 and Ezra 10:28 among lists of returnees from Babylon and those who took certain actions during the post-exilic reforms. The form is preserved in the Masoretic Text, but some textual traditions or scholars propose it is a variant or error for זַכַּי (Zakkay), a name that appears elsewhere in post-exilic lists. In English translations, 'Zabbai' is retained as a transliteration, though some renderings replace it with 'Zaccai.' The name should be distinguished from similar-sounding or similarly spelled Israelite names bearing different roots. Identification of the figure named Zabbay is strictly as a member of the Israelite community during the Persian period; there is no later tradition associating with a later identity such as 'Jew.' The suggestion of 'Zabbai' as an error for 'Zaccai' reflects the complexities in preserving ancient onomastica and transmission of genealogical records.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably by orthographical error for זַכַּי; Zabbai (or Zaccai), an Israelite; Zabbai.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly purity, cleanness (if related to זכה)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2079-02 זבי zvy HNp Zabbai Zabbay 1
H2079-01 זַבַּ֥י zabay HNp Zabbai Zabbay 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2079-01 Ezra 10:28 זַבַּ֥י zabay HNp Zabbai Zabbay
H2079-02 Nehemiah 3:20 זבי zvy HNp Zabbai Zabbay
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