Prophet Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)

Prophet

The book of Zechariah introduces the prophet as the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo (Zechariah 1:1). The book of Ezra names Zechariah as the son of Iddo (Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14), but it is likely that Berechiah was Zechariah’s father, and Iddo was his grandfather.^[1]

His prophetical career probably began in the second year of Darius, king of Persia (520 BC). His greatest concern appears to have been with the building of the Second Temple.^[1]

He was probably not the “Zechariah” mentioned by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke; Zechariah ben Jehoiada was more likely intended.^[2]

Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: Back in the Land

Liturgical commemoration

On the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, his feast day is February 8. He is commemorated with the other Minor Prophets in the calendar of saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 31. The Roman Catholic Church honors him with a feast day assigned to September 6.

References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). “Zechariah” . Easton’s Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.

Hirsch, Emil G. (1906). “Zechariah”. In Cyrus Adler; et al. (eds.). Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Co.
Pao & Schnabel on Luke 11:49–51 (2007). Beale & Carson (ed.). Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. ISBN978-0801026935. most identify this figure with the Zechariah of 2 Chron. 24:20–25, who was killed in the temple court
Cynthia C. Shawamreh (December 1998). “Comparison of the Suriy-i-Haykal and the Prophecies of Zechariah”. Wilmette Institute.