Zechariah | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Zechariah as depicted on the ceiling of theSistine Chapel | |
| Died | c. 6th century BCE |
| Occupation | Prophet |
| Known for | Author of theBook of Zechariah |
| Father | Berechiah (likely) |
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Zechariah[a][1] was a person in theHebrew Bible traditionally considered the author of theBook of Zechariah, the eleventh of theTwelve Minor Prophets.
The Book of Zechariah depicts the eponymous character as the son ofBerechiah, the son of Iddo.[2] TheBook of Ezra instead names Zechariah as the son of Iddo,[3]Targum Lamentations 2:20 names this Zechariah as a son of Iddo, as does the book ofMatthew 23:35. This is not the same person asIddo the Seer, who lived during the reigns ofSolomon,Rehoboam, andAbijah,[4] and is most likely the Iddo mentioned inEzra 8:17.[5] Zechariah's prophetical career probably began in the secondregnal year ofDarius the Great, king of theAchaemenid Empire (520 BCE).[6] Zechariah's greatest concern appears to have been with the building of theSecond Temple.[6] He features in chapters 1–8 of the book of Zechariah but he does not appear in the remaining chapters of the book (chapters 9–14).[7]
The Book of Zechariah introduces him as the son ofBerechiah, the son of Iddo.[8] TheBook of Ezra names Zechariah as the son of Iddo,[9] but it is likely that Berechiah was Zechariah's father and Iddo his grandfather.[6]Targum Lamentations 2:20 names this Zechariah son of Iddo, as does the book ofMatthew 23:35. This is not the same person asIddo the Seer, who lived during the reigns ofSolomon,Rehoboam, andAbijah,[10] and is most likely the Iddo mentioned inEzra 8:17.[11]His name means "Yah remembers".[12]
Zechariah's prophetical career probably began in the second year ofDarius the Great, king of theAchaemenid Empire (520 BCE).[6] His greatest concern appears to have been with the building of theSecond Temple.[6] He features in chapters 1–8 of the book of Zechariah but he does not appear in the remaining chapters of the book (chapters 9–14).[13]
On theEastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, his feast day is 8 February. He is commemorated in thecalendar of saints of theArmenian Apostolic Church on the Tuesday after the fifth Sunday ofPentecost[14] and, with the other Minor Prophets, on 31 July. TheCatholic Church honors him with a feast day assigned to 6 September.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Zechariah".Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
Media related toZechariah (prophet) at Wikimedia Commons
