שְׁחַרְיָה
Shecharjah, an Israelite
Definition
Shechariah is a proper name borne by an Israelite mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 8:26. The name is a compound Hebrew name meaning 'Yahweh (the LORD) has sought' or 'the LORD has dawned.' As a personal name, it signifies an individual's identity and heritage within the tribe of Benjamin. Its single biblical occurrence identifies him as a son of Jeroham, listed among the heads of families living in Jerusalem.
Biblical Usage
This name is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 8:26. It appears within a lengthy genealogical list detailing the descendants of Benjamin. The context is purely historical and genealogical, serving to establish lineage and tribal identity among the post-exilic community for whom Chronicles was written.
Etymology
The name Shechariah (שְׁחַרְיָה) is a compound of two Hebrew elements. The first part comes from the root שָׁחַר (shachar, H7836), which can mean 'to seek, seek early' or 'to be black, dawn.' The second part is the divine name יָהּ (Yah, H3050), a shortened form of Yahweh. Therefore, the name is interpreted as 'Yahweh has sought' or poetically, 'Yahweh has dawned.'
Semantic Range
While the individual Shechariah is not a major biblical figure, his name carries theological weight. It is a theophoric name, embedding the name of God (Yah) within it, which was a common practice to express devotion and acknowledge God's action in one's life. The meaning 'Yahweh has sought' reflects the biblical theme of God's initiative in seeking and calling His people, a concept seen in narratives like God calling Abraham (Genesis 12:1) and the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). Understanding such names reminds readers that biblical genealogies are not just lists, but records of individuals in covenant relationship with a seeking God.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were deeply significant, often describing a circumstance of birth, a prayer, or an attribute of God. A name like Shechariah, declaring 'Yahweh has sought,' likely expressed the parents' gratitude or hope that their child was part of God's purposeful calling. Being recorded in the tribal genealogy of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8) conferred a sense of identity, belonging, and legitimacy within the covenant community, especially important after the Babylonian exile when these records were compiled.
Zechariah (Zᵊkaryâh, H2148) — A more common name with a similar structure meaning 'Yahweh remembers.' Shelemiah (Shᵉlemyâh, H8018) — Meaning 'Yahweh has repaid' or 'Yahweh is peace,' another theophoric name using the divine suffix.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →