Lebanah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Lebanah 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, and they are listed among those who came back from captivity to resettle in the land of Judah. Lebanah is mentioned only once in the King James Bible, in the register of returning exiles.
In Ezra 2:45, he appears in a list of families: “The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub.” This verse falls within the larger census of those who returned with Zerubbabel to rebuild Jerusalem and restore worship at the temple. The listing is by family or clan, so the name Lebanah here represents a household or ancestral line rather than a single individual acting alone.
Scripture says nothing further about Lebanah personally—no deeds, words, or later history are recorded. What is known is that he belonged to the Nethinim, servants devoted to the work of the temple, and that his family was counted among the faithful remnant who left Babylon to return to the land. His inclusion in the register shows that he and his household were part of the restored community in Jerusalem, contributing to the service and upkeep of the house of God after the exile.
The Name
The name Lebanah is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the text itself. It may be related to a Hebrew root associated with whiteness or brightness, but this is not established with certainty, and some scholars treat the name as simply a proper noun whose sense has been lost. Because the meaning is not well attested, it is best to say plainly that the significance of the name Lebanah is uncertain and should not be pressed beyond what the text supports.
A Closing Thought
Lebanah’s story is a quiet one. He is remembered only in a list, a name among names, yet he was counted among those who returned to serve the house of God. Most of us will never be famous, and our lives may look like a single line in a long record. But faithfulness does not require a grand stage. The Lord sees the servant who takes his place in the work, however small it seems, and He does not forget the names of those who return to Him.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Ezra 2:45 — The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,