Greek word · G2197

Ζαχαρίας

zacharias

Zechariah

A common Hebrew name (Zekaryah, 'the LORD remembers'). More than two dozen people in the Old Testament bear it.

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ζαχαρίας, -ου, ὁ (Heb. זַכַּי);

1. Zacharias, father of John the Baptist: Luke 1:5, 12-13 1:18, 21 1:40, 59 1:67 3:2.

2. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada (in txt. wrongly called son of Barachiah; cf. 2 Chronicles 24:19 ff.): Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:51.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 11:51

Range of meaning

A common Hebrew name (Zekaryah, 'the LORD remembers'). More than two dozen people in the Old Testament bear it.

Against the English

English versions all give the name. The question is which Zechariah is meant. Readers often think of the prophet whose book is near the end of the Old Testament, which is almost certainly wrong for Luke.

How it drifted

Because the prophet Zechariah (son of Berechiah, Zech 1:1) is the best-known bearer of the name, readers tend to assume he is meant. Matthew 23:35's 'son of Barachiah' strengthens that assumption.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Chr 24:20–22: Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, filled by the Spirit, rebukes the people. 'They stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.' As he dies he says, 'May the LORD see and avenge!' Later Jewish legend held that his blood kept seething in the temple until the Babylonian invasion (b. Gittin 57b; b. Sanhedrin 96b; Lamentations Rabbah). The Targum (Aramaic paraphrase) of Lamentations 2:20 recalls the killing of 'Zechariah… priest and faithful prophet' in the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

From the study of Matthew 23:35

Range of meaning

Zechariah ("the LORD remembers") was a common priestly name. Over thirty men bear it in the Old Testament. Berechiah means "the LORD blesses".

Against the English

English versions all keep "son of Berechiah" as in the main Greek manuscripts. Few readers notice that the Zechariah murdered in the temple court in the Old Testament is called "son of Jehoiada" (2 Chronicles 24:20).

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Chronicles 24:20–22: Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, filled with the Spirit, rebukes the people. King Joash has him stoned in the temple court, and he dies saying "May the LORD see and avenge!" Zechariah 1:1 names "Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo". Isaiah 8:2: "Zechariah son of Jeberechiah". The Aramaic Targum of Lamentations 2:20 merges the two, speaking of "Zechariah son of Iddo, high priest and faithful prophet" killed in the sanctuary. Rabbinic legend (Babylonian Talmud Gittin 57b, Sanhedrin 96b; Jerusalem Talmud Ta'anit 4:5; Lamentations Rabbah) says his blood kept seething in the temple until the Babylonian general Nebuzaradan slaughtered thousands to quiet it. Josephus (Jewish War 4.334–344) tells of a Zechariah son of Baris (or Bareis) killed by Zealots "in the midst of the temple" in AD 67/68.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 23:35 Ζαχαρίου of Zechariah

    And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

    Here: Most likely the priest-prophet Zechariah son of Jehoiada, stoned "in the court of the house of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 24:20–22). See the debate on his identity.

Luke · 10

  1. Luke 1:5 Ζαχαρίας Zechariah

    In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

    Here: Greek form of Hebrew Zekharyah, 'the LORD has remembered.' It was a common priestly name, and it fits a story about God remembering his promises (1:72).

  2. Luke 1:12 Ζαχαρίας Zechariah

    When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

  3. Luke 1:13 Ζαχαρία· Zechariah;

    But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

    Here: Spoken directly to him by name. Hebrew *Zekaryah* means 'YHWH has remembered', which fits a man whose long-standing request is now being remembered.

  4. Luke 1:18 Ζαχαρίας Zechariah

    “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

    Here: Greek form of Hebrew Zekharyah, "YHWH has remembered." The name is ironic here: God has remembered his prayer (v. 13), and he is the one who hesitates.

  5. Luke 1:21 Ζαχαρίαν Zechariah

    Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

  6. Luke 1:40 Ζαχαρίου of Zechariah

    where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

  7. Luke 1:59 Ζαχαρίαν. Zechariah.

    On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

  8. Luke 1:67 Ζαχαρίας Zechariah

    Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

  9. Luke 3:2 Ζαχαρίου of Zechariah

    during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

    Here: Zechariah, the priest of the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5). John is therefore of priestly birth. The word of God comes to a priest's son out in the wilderness, not to the high priest in the Temple.

  10. Luke 11:51 Ζαχαρίου of Zechariah

    from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

    Here: Almost certainly Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada. He was stoned in the temple court on King Joash's orders after speaking God's rebuke (2 Chr 24:20–22). Luke gives no father's name. Matthew's 'son of Barachiah' raises a separate question.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.