Who was Berechiah in the Bible?

Berechiah was a descendant of King David through the line of Zerubbabel, making him part of the royal lineage. He is listed in genealogies, such as in 1 Chronicles 3:19-20, as the father of the prophet Zechariah.

Why is Berechiah significant in the Bible?

His primary significance is being the father of the prophet Zechariah, who authored a key prophetic book. As a link in the Davidic line, he is part of the genealogy that leads to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12-13).

What key events involved Berechiah?

The Bible does not record specific events in Berechiah's life. His role is primarily genealogical, establishing the family line from King David through the post-exilic period as documented in 1 Chronicles 3.

Berechiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of zerubbabel

Berechiah was a descendant of King David through Zerubbabel.

Berechiah

Biography

This Berechiah appears in the Davidic genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3:20 as a son of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah who led the first wave of exiles back to the land and oversaw the rebuilding of the Temple's foundation. As Zerubbabel's son, Berechiah was a direct descendant of King David and stood in the royal line that carried forward the hope of Israel's messianic promise. He lived during the period following the Babylonian exile when the Davidic dynasty, though stripped of political power, maintained its identity through careful genealogical record-keeping. His name means "Yahweh blesses", a hopeful declaration fitting for a family clinging to covenantal promises in uncertain times.

Significance

Berechiah's place in Zerubbabel's family tree is theologically significant because it connects the post-exilic restoration movement to the ongoing promise of the Davidic covenant. The preservation of Davidic genealogies after the exile was not mere antiquarianism but a declaration of faith: God had not abandoned his promise of an everlasting throne for David's house (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Every name in this lineage, including Berechiah, represents a link in the chain leading toward the ultimate fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ, who is identified in Matthew 1 as the descendant of Zerubbabel and heir of David's throne.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 3:20

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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