Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

According to the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, Zerubbabel (whose name means "offspring of Babylon") was an ancestor of Jesus through Joseph's royal line (Matthew 1:12-13) and also biologically through Mary's line (Luke 3:27).

Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoiachin, king of Judah. He was born in Babylon during Judah's exile there, and travelled to Judah after King Cyrus II of Persia allowed the Judean exiles to return from Babylon in order to rebuild the temple, which took 23 years to accomplish, and which was much smaller than the original temple built by Solomon. However, it survived until the time of Christ, and was the temple that He entered and taught in. 

The prophet Haggai identified Zerubbabel as the governor of Judah after the exiles' return.

Through visions given to the prophet Zechariah, God encouraged Zerubbabel in his work (Zechariah 4:6-9).

God also declared through the prophet Haggai that He would use Zerubbabel to overthrow and destroy kingdoms, and that He had made Zerubbabel as His signet ring (Haggai 2:20-23). This in effect reversed the curse that God had previously placed on Zerubbabel's grandfather Jehoiachin in Jeremiah 22:24-25.

May 13 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David and rightful heir to Judah’s throne (1 Chron. 3:19). He is sometimes called the son of Shealtiel, though other passages list him as the son of Pedaiah. The most likely explanation is that Shealtiel, his uncle, had no children, so Zerubbabel became his legal heir through adoption while remaining Pedaiah’s biological son. This dual reference explains why the Bible sometimes names him as Shealtiel’s son and sometimes as Pedaiah’s (Ezra 3:2, 8).

Zerubbabel’s royal connection is also tied to King Jehoiachin (his grandfather), confirming his place in the Davidic line and pointing forward to the promise of a Messianic king. He is listed in both Matthew’s genealogy (as the father of Abiud, Matt. 1:12–13) and Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:27), showing that he stands in the family tree of Jesus Christ.

The Babylonians may have given him the name Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1:8, 11). When the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon, Zerubbabel led them home (Ezra 2:1-64). In the ruins of Jerusalem, he worked with the high priest Jeshua to restart worship in the Temple (Ezra 3:1-9). Later, under King Darius, Zerubbabel served as governor of Judah and, despite many delays and opposition, finally completed the rebuilding of the Temple (Zech. 4:1-14). Because of his dedication, the rebuilt sanctuary was often called “Zerubbabel’s Temple.”

Some in his day even hoped he might be the Messiah (Zech. 3:8-10). While that was not God’s plan, Zerubbabel’s role was crucial in preserving the Davidic line, restoring temple worship, and carrying forward God’s promise of salvation. His life sharpens our view of God’s unfolding plan of redemption from David, to Jehoiachin, to Zerubbabel, and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

(Sources, Herbert Lockyer, chat, classic.net.bible.org/Names)

September 19 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report