Berechiah
Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, repaired sections of Jerusalem's wall during Nehemiah's time.
Biography
Berechiah son of Meshezabel is listed in Nehemiah 3:4, 30 as a diligent participant in the repair of Jerusalem's walls during Nehemiah's famous rebuilding project in the mid-fifth century BC. He is notably mentioned twice, suggesting he was responsible for repairing a section of the wall that extended opposite his own house, demonstrating personal investment in the community's restoration. His father's name, Meshezabel, meaning "God delivers," reflects a family tradition of faith-rooted naming. While nothing beyond his wall-building labor is recorded, his double mention in Nehemiah 3 sets him apart among the many laborers listed, implying a significant or particularly prominent contribution to the restoration effort.
Significance
Berechiah's double mention in Nehemiah's construction register suggests a level of diligence or contribution that merited special notice in the sacred record. In the broader context of Nehemiah's project, the wall's repair was not merely civic construction but a theological act, restoring the protective boundary of God's holy city after its long humiliation. Each laborer's contribution was, in effect, a declaration that the exile was truly ending and that Israel's God was fulfilling his promises of restoration. Berechiah's labor near his own home models the principle that commitment to the community of faith begins with faithfulness in one's own immediate sphere of responsibility.
Verse Appearances (3)
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]