Lexical Definition
בְּצַלְאֵל Bᵉtsalʼêl (bets-al-ale') Bezalel N:N-M-P
probably from צֵל and אֵל with a prepositional prefix; in (the) shadow (i.e. protection) of God
Bezaleel.
- § Bezaleel = "in the shadow (i.e. protection) of God"
- Betsalel, the name of two Israelites
1) son of Uri and grandson of Hur; a skilled Judahite artisan in all works of metal, wood, and stone and one of the architects of the tabernacle
2) an Israelite, one of the sons of Pahath-moab, in the time of Ezra who had taken a strange wife
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| בְצַלְאֵ֔ל | Bezalel | Ezra.10.30 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.10.30
Brown-Driver-Briggs
בְּצַלְאֵל proper name, masculine (in the shadow (protection) of El; compare cuneiform ‚il-Bêl, a king of Gaza, COT Josh 11:22) —
1. a skilled artisan of tribe of Judah Exod 31:2; Exod 35:30; Exod 36:1; Exod 36:2; Exod 37:1; Exod 38:22 (all P) 1Chr 2:20; 2Chr 1:5.
2. an Israelite Ezra 10:30.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Exodus | 31:2 · 35:30 · 36:1 · 36:2 · 37:1 · 38:22 |
| Joshua | 11:22 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:20 |
| 2 Chronicles | 1:5 |
| Ezra | 10:30 |
Profile
Male • Returned divorcee • Israelite who married a foreign wife
Man living at the time of Exile and Return
Bezalel, one of the descendants of Pahath-moab, married a foreign wife during the time of Ezra.
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.10.30;
- only referred to as Bezalel בְּצַלְאֵל.
Bezalel was an Israelite mentioned among the descendants of Pahath-moab who had married foreign wives during the time of Ezra (Ezr. 10:30). After the return from Babylonian exile, Ezra discovered that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the neighboring peoples, contrary to God's commands. This posed a threat to the spiritual purity and distinct identity of the Jewish community. Ezra called for a assembly, where the people confessed their sin and agreed to separate from their foreign wives. Bezalel was one of the individuals who had taken this step, demonstrating repentance and a commitment to follow God's laws. This event highlights the importance of maintaining religious and cultural purity among the returned exiles as they sought to rebuild their lives in the Promised Land.
All entries for Bezalel: בְּצַלְאֵל