Introduction | What Is Elohim Saying in Ezra 1–3? What’s in a Name?
Bible Study—Ezra Series | What’s in a Name?
Book of Ezra, Chapters 1– 3
Introduction: The Scroll of Return
Before the foundation of the second temple was ever laid, Yahweh laid a foundation of something deeper—names.
Ezra 1–3 is more than history. It is a holy roll call. A scroll of return. A prophetic breadcrumb trail whispered through generations of exiles. Every name, every town, every priest and servant tells a piece of the greater story: Yahweh remembers. Yahweh rebuilds. Yahweh restores.
This Bible study isn’t about stone walls. It’s about the living stones.
It’s about you.
Whether you were sown in Babylon, forgotten in the shadow, marked by shame, or born in the dry hills of silence—Yahweh knows your name. And He is stirring the hearts of a remnant again. Not just to return physically, but to rebuild the altar of worship, the foundation of truth, and the house of His presence.
The names in Ezra carry meanings like:
Yahweh saves.
He has judged.
The afflicted son.
Insidious.
Apple of the eye.
Very great.
Not one is left out. Even the lowliest temple servant, even those with unclear genealogies, are remembered. Together, they form a living parable of return—of Heaven’s heart to redeem exile with inheritance.
This study will walk name by name, section by section, through the scroll Yahweh preserved. Along the way, you’ll see that your name belongs in His story too.
What Is the Remnant?
The remnant are the ones who still walk with Yahweh when most have turned away.
They weep like the prophets of old—not because we choose sorrow, but because we carry His heart. We draw near when others pull away.
We see what others don’t want to see. We prefer the light, rather than the darkness.
We feel and see what others ignore.
We cry out—not for attention, but because the burden of Heaven is too heavy to hold in silence.
We are the ones who still hear His voice.
We are the ones who refuse to bow to idols, no matter the cost.
We are the ones who mourn and ache for the lost, because we know how it feels to be found.
We are special—not because of anything we’ve done, but because He made us for His purpose; because Yahweh Himself set us apart.
He made us this way. Formed in His fire, by His Hands, at His workbench…
Called by name and refined to remain.
We are the ones who carry the cry:
“Prepare the way! Make way for the coming of the Messiah!”
“Come back to the Father. He is still waiting.”
“If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors,
we should have been like Sodom,
and become like Gomorrah.”
— Isaiah 1:9 (ESV)
The remnant is not a role you pick.
It’s a calling you carry.
It’s a life shaped by His Spirit, for such a time as this.
We are the ones Yahweh remembers—because we never ever forgot Him.
Cyrus Handing over the Treasure Looted from the Temple of Jerusalem
| Ferdinand Bol, 1655 - 1669
The Awakening Begins with a Pagan King (Ezra 1:1–2)
“…that the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled…”
Yahweh stirred the spirit of Cyrus, a Persian king. This isn’t just historical—it’s prophetic.
Cyrus (Koresh) means “sun” or “like the sun” but also hints at a shepherd (Isaiah 44:28).
“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb:
I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’; who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Yahweh calls Cyrus "My shepherd" in Isaiah, saying he will rebuild Jerusalem and lay the foundation of the temple.
Prophetic Pattern:
Even those outside the covenant can be used to initiate restoration, when Yahweh's Word is ready to be fulfilled.
Spiritual Message:
Yahweh is sovereign over kings. He will stir the spirit of even the unlikely to accomplish His will—especially when it comes to restoring His dwelling among His people.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you”
The Remnant Rises—Those Whose Spirit God Stirred (Ezra 1:5)
“Then rose up… everyone whose spirit God had stirred…”
Names like Sheshbazzar (possibly Zerubbabel), Mithredath, and the fathers of Judah and Benjamin all signal something deeper.
Sheshbazzar = “joy in tribulation” or “worship in fire” (Babylonian origin)
Judah = Praise
Benjamin = Son of the right hand
Prophetic Pattern:
Only those stirred by Elohim will respond. This was not a mass exodus—it was a remnant response.
Spiritual Message:
Not all will leave Babylon, even when given the chance. Only those stirred by the Spirit will return to rebuild His House.
Ezra 2 — The Remnant Is Named
The genealogical list is a scroll of names, but each name has a meaning. These meanings form a message from Elohim.
For example:
Zerubbabel = Sown in Babylon
Jeshua = Yahweh saves
Nehemiah = Yahweh comforts
Seraiah = Yahweh is ruler
Reelaiah = Yahweh has seen
Mordecai = Little man / Warrior
Bilshan = Their tongue
Mispar = Number / Census
Bigvai = In my body / Happy
Rehum = Compassionate
Baanah = Son of affliction
We will fully chart these, but the first names alone form a possible prophetic sentence:
“Sown in Babylon, Yahweh saves and comforts. Yahweh rules and sees the warrior’s tongue. He numbers those who are in His body and shows compassion on the afflicted.”
Prophetic Pattern:
Even the exile was purposeful—Yahweh sowed a remnant into Babylon in order to raise them up, numbered, purified, and ready for the call.
Spiritual Message:
No one was forgotten in exile. Yahweh knows everyone’s name. People are sewn hard places to be called out, refined, sanctified, and numbered.
Ezra 3 — They Build the Altar Before the Temple
Before the temple is laid, they rebuild the altar and keep the appointed feasts.
This is key. Yahweh's people don’t start with a building—they start with sacrifice and obedience.
They resume morning and evening offerings (Ex. 29:38), new moon celebrations, and Feast of Booths (Lev. 23).
Prophetic Pattern:
Before Yahweh rebuilds the structure, He restores the worship.
Spiritual Message:
Worship comes before rebuilding. Sacrifice before sanctuary. He is calling His people back to the altar.
The Foundation Is Laid with Tears and Shouts (Ezra 3:10–13)
Old men who saw Solomon’s temple weep, while others shout for joy.
Both reactions occur, one lays the foundation for the coming Messiah, while the other lays bitterness for the rejection of Him.
This temple was seemingly less “impressive,” but, for those with eyes to see, it carried a greater promise: Yahushua Himself would one day walk its courts—and that was everything! Hallelujah!
Prophetic Pattern:
The glory of the second house would be greater (Haggai 2:9)—not because of stone or gold, but because Yahushua would come.
“The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’””
Spiritual Message:
The beginnings of revival may seem small, but the foundation laid in obedience will welcome the Glory Himself.
So, What Is Elohim Telling Us in Ezra 1–3?
He fulfills His Word, no matter how long it takes.
70 years passed, but every prophecy (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Haggai) aligned perfectly.
He uses unexpected people to stir restoration.
Even kings outside the covenant can be stirred.
The remnant is known by name.
Each name tells a story of redemption, affliction, obedience, and hope.
Worship precedes rebuilding.
The altar rises before the temple. Daily obedience over grandeur.
The foundation of the true temple is spiritual.
And it's leading to Messiah’s presence, not just physical walls.
Opening Prayer: A Cry from the Remnant
Abba Yahweh, Holy One of All Creation,
You are the Keeper of Names,
the Scribe of Heaven’s Scroll,
the One who calls the exiles home.
You do not forget the sons and daughters of affliction, You do not ever lose count of your children, orphans, or widows, or of the hidden and the humble.
You redeem the despised, restore the broken, and rebuild the ruined. Rebuild us now.
We come before You—some of us fresh from Babylon, some still in it, lead us out, guide us to you, weeping and lost, restore our temple while we wipe the dust from our shoes, kiss our forehead and call us Yours.
Some of us remember the former glory, and some of are just learning how to worship. But we come.
Because You stirred our hearts to return, to The One who formed us in the womb.
Let this study not just inform us—
let it reform us.
Lay the foundation stone in our hearts.
Restore the altar of our worship.
Cleanse our lineage.
And write our names anew in the scroll of Your promises for Your purposes and our good.
We are Yours.
Not by bloodline, but by Your blood,
Not by heritage, but by Your hand.
May every word of this study awaken the gatekeeper, the priest, the scribe, the servant, the singer, and watchman within us.
And may we, like the remnant before us, rise up and build in glory and in Truth.
In the name of Yahushua,
High Priest and Cornerstone,
Amen ➕ Amen!!
So with that, let’s begin!
Fuel the Mission – Just like a warm cup of coffee fuels the body, your support fuels our mission to share God’s Word with the world. Every contribution helps cover the costs of running this ministry—keeping Bible study resources, articles, and printables free for everyone, regardless of income or resources. Your generosity allows us to continue creating faith-filled content, ensuring that no one is hindered from deepening their walk with Christ. If you’ve been blessed by what you’ve found here, consider helping us fuel the mission so we can keep spreading His truth far and wide.