Zerubbabel (ze-rŭb'ba-bĕl), begotten in Babylon, 1 Chronicles 3:19, or Zorobabel, Matthew 1:12, A. V., was the leader of the first colony of Jews that returned from the captivity in Babylon, Ezra 2:2, and was of the family of David, a son of Salathiel or Shealtiel, Haggai 1:1; Matthew 1:12, but called a son of Pedaiah, the brother or son of Salathiel, in 1 Chronicles 3:17-19. He laid the foundations of the temple, Zechariah 4:6-10, and was chiefly instrumental in restoring the religious rites of the nation. Finally he succeeded in completing the building. Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:12; Haggai 1:14; Haggai 2:2; Haggai 2:4; Zechariah 4:6; Zechariah 4:10. He was the governor of Judæa. Nehemiah 12:47.