Who was Berechiah in the bible?

Berechiah is a name borne by several men in the Old Testament. Two are especially notable: the father of Asaph the temple singer, and the father of the prophet Zechariah.

A Name Among Several

Berechiah the father of Asaph is named in the record of the Levitical singers David appointed.

“…Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea.” (1 Chronicles 6:39, WEB)

A different Berechiah is named as the father of the post-exilic prophet Zechariah.

“…Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet.” (Zechariah 1:1, WEB)

Others bearing the name include a son of Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:20), an Ephraimite leader in the days of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:12), and the father of Meshullam who repaired the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:4).

Name and Meaning

The Hebrew name בֶּרֶכְיָה (Berechiah) means “Yahweh blesses,” listed in Strong’s Concordance as H1296.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Berechiah in the Bible?

Berechiah is a name held by several Israelites, including the father of Asaph the singer and the father of the prophet Zechariah (1 Chronicles 6:39; Zechariah 1:1).

What does the name Berechiah mean?

The Hebrew name Berechiah means “Yahweh blesses” (Strong’s H1296).

Where does Berechiah appear?

In 1 Chronicles 3:20; 6:39; 2 Chronicles 28:12; Nehemiah 3:4; and Zechariah 1:1, among others.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Berechiah interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).