Athlai
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Athlai in the Bible?
Athlai, identified as the son of Bebai, is listed in Ezra 10:28 among the Israelites who agreed to divorce their foreign wives in accordance with the community's covenant renewal.
SIGNIFICANCE
This record provides specific evidence of the social mechanisms used by the returned exiles to maintain ethnic and religious distinctiveness in the Persian period.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Genealogy & Community Insight: When reading, notice how the lineage and actions of Athlai reveal God's preservation of family clans and community records across generations.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Athlai in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Athlai clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned:
Ezra 10:28
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Athlai." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/athlai/