Hen (1)
The Name and Its Meaning
The name Hen appears in Zechariah 6:14 in the King James Version, where it reads, "And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah." The Hebrew word means "favor," "grace," or "kindness," and its appearance in this verse has generated considerable scholarly discussion about whether it is a proper name or a descriptive term.
The Question of Identity
The central puzzle surrounding Hen is its relationship to Josiah son of Zephaniah, who appears just four verses earlier in Zechariah 6:10. In that verse, the prophet is instructed to go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, where exiles who had arrived from Babylon were staying. Gold and silver were to be collected from these visitors and fashioned into crowns for Joshua the high priest.
When the crowns are described in verse 14 as being given to various individuals for safekeeping in the temple, the person called Josiah in verse 10 appears to be replaced by Hen in verse 14. This has led to two main interpretations.
Two Interpretations
The first interpretation holds that Hen is an alternate name or nickname for Josiah son of Zephaniah. In the ancient world, people commonly bore more than one name, and "Hen" meaning "favor" could have been a name given to describe Josiah's character or the grace God had shown through him.
The second interpretation, favored by many modern translators and reflected in the Revised Version margin, reads the phrase not as a personal name but as a description: "and for the kindness of the son of Zephaniah." Under this reading, the crowns are placed in the temple as a memorial to the generosity of Josiah son of Zephaniah, who hosted the exiles and facilitated the crowning ceremony. The Hebrew text supports either reading, as the word can function as both a name and a common noun.
The Crowning Ceremony
Regardless of whether Hen is a personal name or a descriptive term, the passage belongs to one of the most significant prophetic actions in Zechariah. The prophet is instructed to take gold and silver, make crowns, and place them on the head of Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 6:11). This symbolic act pointed forward to a future figure called the "Branch" who would build the temple of the Lord, bear royal honor, and sit as both priest and king on his throne (Zechariah 6:12-13).
The combination of priestly and royal roles in one person was unprecedented in Israel's history, where the offices of king and priest were strictly separated. This prophecy is understood by Christian interpreters as pointing to Jesus Christ, who fulfills both roles as the ultimate priest-king.
The Crowns as a Memorial
Zechariah 6:14 states that after the crowning ceremony, the crowns were to be placed in the temple as a memorial. The individuals named in this verse, including Hen or Josiah, were honored for their role in supporting the prophetic sign-act. Their contribution of gold and silver, their hospitality to the exiles, and their participation in this moment of prophetic significance earned them lasting recognition.
The placement of the crowns in the temple transformed them from objects of immediate use into lasting symbols of faithfulness and hope, a physical reminder that God would fulfill his promise to send the Branch who would unite the offices of priest and king.
Grace in a Name
Whether Hen is a personal name or a description, the concept of grace that it embodies runs throughout Zechariah's prophecy. The entire book is marked by themes of God's gracious restoration of his people after exile, his favor toward Jerusalem, and his promise of a future redeemer. A name meaning "favor" or "grace" fits perfectly within this prophetic vision of divine kindness toward a people who had endured judgment but were now experiencing restoration.
Biblical Context
Hen appears in Zechariah 6:14 within the account of the symbolic crowning of Joshua the high priest. The passage is connected to Zechariah 6:10, where Josiah son of Zephaniah is named as the host of visiting exiles. The broader context of Zechariah 6:9-15 contains one of the Old Testament's most significant messianic prophecies about the priestly-royal Branch.
Theological Significance
The passage containing Hen's name points to the messianic hope of a figure who would unite the offices of priest and king. Whether Hen is a name or a description, the concept of divine favor it represents is central to Zechariah's message of restoration and hope. The crowning ceremony foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who serves as both high priest and king.
Historical Background
Zechariah prophesied during the early post-exilic period (520-518 BC), when the returned exiles were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. The arrival of visitors from Babylon with gold and silver reflects ongoing connections between the diaspora community and those who had returned to Judah. The dual naming of individuals was common in the ancient Near East, and the uncertainty over whether Hen is a name or a description reflects the ambiguity that sometimes exists in Hebrew texts from this period.