Original Word: חֲבַיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chabayah
Pronunciation: khab-ah-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (khab-ah-yaw')
KJV: Habaiah
NASB: Habaiah, Hobaiah
Word Origin: [from H2247 (חָבָה - hide) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah has hidden
2. Chabajah, an Israelite

Habaiah

Or Chabayah {khab-aw-yaw'}; from chabah and Yahh; Jah has hidden; Chabajah, an Israelite -- Habaiah.

see HEBREW chabah

see HEBREW Yahh

Word Origin
from chabah and Yah
Definition
"Yah has hidden," an Isr.
NASB Translation
Habaiah (1), Hobaiah (1).

חֲבָיָה proper name, masculine head of a priestly family Ezra 2:61 = Nehemiah 7:63 (van d. H. Ezra חֲבַיָּה; Nehemiah חֳבָיָה, margin חֳבַיָה; compare Baer's note on Ezra 2:61; ᵐ5 Ezra Λαβεια, ᵐ5^L Ωδουια, A Οβαια, ᵐ5 Nehemiah Εβεια, ᵐ5^L Αβια, א Αβεια).

חֲבַיָּה, חֳבָיָה see foregoing.

יְחֻבָּה see חֻבָּה below חבב.

Overview

חֲבַיָּה appears twice in the Old Testament, designating a priestly house counted among the returnees from Babylon. Although named with honor in the restoration lists, its members were unable to substantiate their lineage and were therefore suspended from priestly service until divine confirmation could be obtained (Ezra 2:61-63; Nehemiah 7:63-65).

Occurrences in Scripture

• Ezra 2:61 – “From the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).”
• Nehemiah 7:63 – Parallel enumeration in Nehemiah’s census.

Historical Context

After Cyrus authorized the Jewish exiles to return (Ezra 1:1-4), nearly fifty thousand people made the journey (Ezra 2:64-65). Proper ordering of worship required a verified priesthood (Exodus 28:1; Ezra 6:18). Genealogical records, largely destroyed or lost in exile, became critical. In this milieu the house of חֲבַיָּה surfaced: honored for responding to God’s stirring, yet confronted by missing documentation.

Priestly Identity and Genealogical Purity

1. Covenant Responsibility: Priests mediated between God and Israel (Leviticus 10:11). Any break in Aaronic lineage threatened covenant fidelity.
2. Administrative Scrutiny: Zerubbabel and Jeshua “excluded them from the priesthood as unclean, until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim” (Ezra 2:62). This action underscores fidelity to Torah while awaiting divine verdict.
3. Restoration Tension: Their presence illustrates both the eagerness of the exiles to restore temple service and the stringent safeguards protecting sacred offices.

Theological Themes

• Holiness and Order: God’s instructions for worship are precise (Leviticus 22:2). The suspension of חֲבַיָּה affirms that zeal must be matched by obedience.
• Divine Providence Over Genealogies: Scripture records even uncertain lines; God’s memory transcends human archives (Malachi 3:16).
• Dependence on Revelation: The wait for Urim and Thummim foreshadows the church’s reliance on the Spirit for discernment (Acts 13:2-3).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Credential Integrity: Contemporary servants of God must uphold transparent qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
• Patience in Validation: Ministry doors may pause until proper confirmation arrives; such delay protects the flock.
• Grace for the Disenfranchised: Though sidelined, חֲבַיָּה remained among the community, reminding congregations to honor those in limbo without compromising standards.

Messianic and Ecclesiological Connections

While human records falter, Messiah’s priesthood rests on divine oath, “You are a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:21). The contrast elevates Christ as the flawless High Priest and urges the church, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5).

Summary

חֲבַיָּה represents a priestly clan eager for temple service yet restrained for want of proof. Their account preserves lessons on holiness, accountability, and reliance on God’s ultimate validation. In every age God’s people are called to combine zeal with order as they serve under the perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ.

חֳבַיָּ֖ה חביה choaiYah ḥo·ḇay·yāh ḥoḇayyāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts