Lebana is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Lebana was one of the Nethinim, a group of temple servants who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The Nethinim were set apart for service connected with the temple, assisting the Levites in the practical work of the house of God. Though they were not priests or Levites themselves, they held a recognized place among those who served in the temple. Lebana is identified as the head of a family or clan, since the record speaks of “the children of Lebana.”
He appears in the list of exiles who came back from Babylon, recorded in Nehemiah 7:48. This chapter recounts the register of those who returned to Judah under Zerubbabel, and it was later consulted in Nehemiah’s day to establish the rightful place of families and individuals in the restored community. Lebana’s name is preserved among the Nethinim, showing that he and his household were counted among the returning remnant.
Scripture says nothing more of Lebana beyond this single mention. We are not told of any deed, word, or particular circumstance in his life. What is recorded is simply that he was among those who came back and that his descendants were numbered with the temple servants. His inclusion in the register means his family was known and reckoned within the restored worshiping community in Jerusalem.
The Name
The name Lebana is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly established. Some have suggested a connection to a root meaning “white” or “moon,” but this is uncertain and not firmly recoverable. Because the name appears only once in the King James Bible and the text gives no explanation of it, no meaning can be stated with confidence. It is better to acknowledge plainly that the meaning of this name is obscure than to assign it a sense the evidence does not support.
A Closing Thought
Lebana’s life is summed up in a single line of a long list, and yet that line matters. He was one of the unnamed many who came back to serve in the temple, doing work that drew no spotlight. Most of God’s faithful servants are like him: known fully to God, remembered in His book, even when the world takes no notice. There is quiet honor in being counted among those who simply returned and served.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Nehemiah 7:48 — The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,