Bible Dictionary
Bigvai
Bigvai was the head of a large family that returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Another man named Bigvai signed the covenant made with Nehemiah.
Definition
Bigvai was the head of a family that returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. His family was large, and later another man named Bigvai subscribed the covenant made with Nehemiah.
Biblical Usage
Bigvai appears in postexilic lists of those who returned with Zerubbabel and in the list of those who sealed Nehemiah’s covenant. His returning family included more than two thousand members, with additional descendants later accompanying Ezra.
Historical Background
Bigvai is explained as meaning “happy.” The family returned from Babylon to Jerusalem during the restoration under Zerubbabel, while another Bigvai belonged to the covenant community in Nehemiah’s day.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(happy).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>big'-va-i (bighway; Baogei, Bagoua):</p><p>(1) The head of one of the families who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:2; Ne 7:7), having a large number of his retainers (2,056, according to Ezr 2:14; 2,067, according to Ne 7:19), besides 72 males later under Ezra (Ezr 8:14).</p><p>(2) One of those who subscribed the covenant with Nehemiah (Ne 10:16).</p>