Thamah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Thamah was the ancestor of one of the families of temple servants, or Nethinim, who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. His name appears in the list of exiles who came back with Zerubbabel, as recorded in Ezra 2:53: “The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah.” The parallel list in Nehemiah 7:55 preserves the same family name among those who returned. Thamah himself is not described as an active participant in the return; rather, he is named as the head of a household or clan whose descendants made up part of the returning community.
The temple servants were a distinct group assigned to assist the Levites in the practical work of the sanctuary—tasks such as carrying water, gathering wood, and other forms of manual service. Though their origins are not fully explained in Scripture, they were counted among the people of Israel who returned to rebuild worship in Jerusalem. Thamah’s family was therefore part of the restoration community, however humble their role.
Scripture records nothing else about Thamah personally—no deeds, no words, no notable events. He is known only through the family that bore his name and the fact that they returned to the land. His inclusion in the list, however, shows that his household was preserved through the exile and counted among those who came back to reestablish the worship of God in Jerusalem.
The Name
The name Thamah (also rendered Tamah in some translations) is of uncertain meaning. It appears in the Hebrew text of Ezra 2:53 and Nehemiah 7:55 as תָּמַה (Tamah). Some scholars have suggested a possible connection to a Hebrew root meaning “to wonder” or “to be astonished,” but this is not firmly established, and the name may instead be of foreign or non-Hebrew origin, as is the case with several of the Nethinim family names. Because the etymology is not clearly recoverable, no confident meaning can be given.
A Closing Thought
Thamah never speaks, never acts, and never appears outside a single genealogical line. Yet his name is preserved in Scripture because his family returned. Not every life is remembered for great deeds; some are remembered simply for faithfulness in showing up when God’s work needed doing. Thamah’s descendants took their place among the temple servants, doing unseen tasks that supported the worship of God. That is a quiet encouragement: the Lord keeps a record of those who serve Him, even when no one else notices.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Ezra 2:53 — The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,