Zebina is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Zebina was one of the men who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned in the Book of Ezra, in a list of those who had taken foreign wives and who pledged to put them away in obedience to the covenant renewal led by Ezra. He is identified as one of the sons of Nebo, a family group within the returning community.
Zebina appears in Ezra 10:43, near the end of a long roster of men who were found guilty of intermarriage with the peoples of the land. The context is the assembly in Jerusalem during the rainy season, where Ezra called the people to confession and reform. Those named in this list were not merely accused but were recorded as having submitted to the prescribed remedy: they agreed to send away their foreign wives and to offer a ram for their guilt.
Scripture says nothing else about Zebina beyond this single mention. He did not speak, lead, or perform any notable deed in the narrative. His inclusion in the list means he was counted among those who acknowledged their sin and submitted to the corrective measures of the community. His name stands as a witness to a moment of national repentance and to one man’s place within it—obscure, yet recorded.
The Name
The name Zebina is a Hebrew name whose meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or from standard Hebrew lexicons. Some have suggested a connection to a root meaning “to buy” or “purchase,” but this is uncertain and not well established. Unlike names such as “Joshua” (the LORD saves) or “Nathaniel” (gift of God), Zebina’s meaning is not confidently known. It is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is uncertain rather than to assign it a meaning that cannot be verified.
A Closing Thought
Zebina is a reminder that most of God’s people are not remembered for great deeds but for quiet obedience in a moment of correction. He appears once, in a list of men who had done wrong and then did right by submitting to the word of God through Ezra. His name is easy to skip over, yet it is written in Scripture. That is a comfort: the Lord does not forget those who humble themselves and obey, even when no one else notices. Faithfulness in obscurity still counts.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Ezra 10:43 — Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.