Who was Regem-melech in the Bible?

Regem-melech was a man sent as part of a delegation to the priests and prophets at the house of God to inquire about continuing a fast. He is mentioned only once in the book of Zechariah (Zechariah 7:2).

What was Regem-melech's mission in Zechariah?

Regem-melech and his companions were sent to seek an answer from God about whether they should continue mourning and fasting in the fifth month, as they had done for many years. This inquiry led to a prophetic message from God through Zechariah (Zechariah 7:3-7).

Why is Regem-melech significant in the Bible?

Though a minor figure, Regem-melech's delegation prompted an important prophecy. God used their question to shift the focus from ritual fasting to practicing justice, mercy, and compassion, teaching that obedience is more important than religious ceremony (Zechariah 7:9-10).

Regem-melech

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMale

Regem-melech was one of the messengers sent to the house of God to inquire of the Lord.

Regem-melech

Biography

Regem-melech appears in Zechariah 7:2 as one of two envoys, the other being Sharezer, sent by the people of Bethel to Jerusalem during the fourth year of King Darius. Their mission was to inquire of the priests and prophets whether the people should continue the fasts of mourning that had been observed during the exile, particularly the fast of the fifth month commemorating the destruction of the temple. The divine response channeled through the prophet Zechariah transformed this practical religious question into a profound prophetic discourse on justice, mercy, and the true meaning of fasting (Zechariah 7–8). His name combines the Hebrew word regem ('friend' or 'stone heap') with melech ('king'), suggesting a royal association, though his precise status is unclear.

Significance

Regem-melech's delegation to Jerusalem catalyzed one of the most important prophetic addresses in the post-exilic writings. The question he and Sharezer posed, whether ritual mourning remained obligatory, prompted God through Zechariah to reframe the entire purpose of covenant faithfulness. The Lord's response made clear that external religious observance divorced from justice and compassion had always been beside the point (Zechariah 7:9–10). Regem-melech thus serves as an inadvertent instrument of prophetic revelation, illustrating how sincere inquiry can open the door to deeper divine instruction. His mission underscores the post-exilic community's wrestling with identity, grief, and renewal as they sought to rebuild their relationship with God.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

Zech

Zech 7:2

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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