Bigvai
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
1. 2056 ( Ezra 2:14), 2067 ( Nehemiah 7:19), children of Bigvai returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel; 72 subsequently with Ezra ( Ezra 8:14). The different circumstances under which the two registers were made account for the variation of numbers: Ezra's in Babylon, Nehemiah's in Judaea, after the walls had been built. Many, who intended to return and were so put down in the former list, were prevented by death, or changed their minds and stayed. Many, not entered in it, afterward joined the caravan when starting. The variation is a plain proof of the absence of collusion between the two writers.
2. A chief of Zerubbabel's expedition, who subsequently signed the covenant ( Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7).
Smith's Bible Dictionary [2]
Big'va-i. (Happy).
1. "Children of Bigvai," 2056 (Nehemiah, 2067) in number, returned from the captivity with Zerubbabel, Ezra 2:14; Nehemiah 7:19, and 72 of them, at a later date with Ezra. Ezra 8:14. (B.C. 536).
2. Apparently, one of the chiefs of Zerubbabel's expedition, Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7, whose family, afterwards, signed the covenant. Nehemiah 10:16. (B.C. 410).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]
BIGVAI . 1 . A companion of Zerubbabel ( Ezra 2:2 = Nehemiah 7:7; cf. Ezra 2:14 [ 1E Esther 5:14 Bagoi , 1Es 8:40 Bago ] = Nehemiah 7:19 , Ezra 8:14 ). 2 . A signatory to the covenant ( Nehemiah 10:16 ).
Morrish Bible Dictionary [4]
Ancestor of some who returned from exile, one of whom, bearing the same name, sealed the covenant. Ezra 2:2,14; Ezra 8:14; Nehemiah 7:7,19; Nehemiah 10:16 .
Holman Bible Dictionary [5]
Ezra 2:2 Ezra 2:14 Ezra 8:14 2 Nehemiah 10:16
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]
big´vā̇ - ı̄ ( בּגוי , bı̄ghway ; Βαογεί , Baogeı́ , Βαγουά , Bagouá ):
(1) The head of one of the families who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel ( Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7 ), having a large number of his retainers (2,056, according to Ezra 2:14; 2,067, according to Nehemiah 7:19 ), besides 72 males later under Ezra ( Ezra 8:14 ).
(2) One of those who subscribed the covenant with Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 10:16 ).
