The Meaning of Ezra 7:5 Explained

Ezra 7:5

KJV: The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

YLT: son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the head priest;

Darby: the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest,

ASV: the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The son  of Abishua,  the son  of Phinehas,  the son  of Eleazar,  the son  of Aaron  the chief  priest: 

What does Ezra 7:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 7:1-18 - A Missionary Journey
An interval of sixty years intervened between the events of Ezra 6:1-22 and Ezra 7:1-28, and in that time the history recorded in the book of Esther took place. This chapter is full of helpful thoughts. Note the description of Ezra's character-A ready scribe- Ezra 7:6. He not only knew the Law, but he set his heart to seek and do, Ezra 7:10. The only way to understand Scripture is to be prepared to do it. What a contrast to Matthew 23:3! Let us not resemble the finger-post, which directs the traveler, but stirs not a step along the road it points. Note the secret of Ezra's success, the good hand of God. This is a characteristic phrase of Ezra and Nehemiah. That hand answers prayer, Ezra 7:6; speeds our way, as much in railway trains as in caravans, Ezra 7:9; and strengthens us for service, Ezra 7:28. The strong, tender hand of God is laid on our hands, as a father's on those of the son learning to draw a bow, Genesis 49:24. And when God's hand is on us, it is also on others, preparing them to cooperate. When God needs an instrument, He will come to men of Ezra's spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 7

1  Ezra goes up to Jerusalem
11  The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra
27  Ezra blesses God for this favor

What do the individual words in Ezra 7:5 mean?

the son of Abishua of Phinehas of Eleazar of Aaron the priest chief
בֶּן־ אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ פִּֽינְחָס֙ אֶלְעָזָ֔ר אַהֲרֹ֥ן הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הָרֹֽאשׁ

בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ  of  Abishua 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישׁוּעַ  
Sense: son of Phinehas, grandson of Aaron.
פִּֽינְחָס֙  of  Phinehas 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פִּינְחָס  
Sense: son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family.
אֶלְעָזָ֔ר  of  Eleazar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶלְעָזָר  
Sense: Additional Information: Eleazar = “God has helped”.
אַהֲרֹ֥ן  of  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הָרֹֽאשׁ  chief 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.