The book of Zechariah is dated to around 520–518 BC. This places it after the return from exile, during the rebuilding of the temple.
Approximate writing date
The date given for Zechariah’s prophetic activity—and thus for the book associated with it—is around 520–518 BC. The book is set in the period after the return from exile and is connected with the rebuilding of the temple.
Historical setting
The date note ties Zechariah’s prophecy to a specific situation: it came after the return from exile and during the rebuilding of the temple. The audience is identified as the returned Jewish exiles, and the author note describes Zechariah as a prophet who encouraged those returned exiles to rebuild the temple. These details support placing the book’s message in that same post-exile rebuilding context.
Authorship and evidence
The author is identified as Zechariah son of Berechiah. The evidence provided for this authorship is the book’s opening identification:
“The word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah” (Zechariah 1:1)
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This statement links the book to Zechariah by name, and the dating given (around 520–518 BC) corresponds to his prophesying in the period of temple rebuilding after the return from exile.
What the book addresses
The book is described as urging the returned exiles to rebuild and looking ahead to the coming King. In other words, its focus is both immediate and forward-looking: it speaks into the practical work of rebuilding the temple in the post-exile community, while also directing attention beyond that moment to the coming King.
Why the dating matters
Dating the book to around 520–518 BC matters because it anchors the book’s purpose and audience in a particular setting: returned Jewish exiles engaged in rebuilding the temple. The author note emphasizes that Zechariah encouraged the returned exiles to rebuild the temple, and the date note places his prophecy during that rebuilding. Taken together, these details indicate that the book’s message is situated in the same timeframe as those rebuilding efforts, while also including hope directed toward the coming King.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the book of Zechariah written?
It is dated to around 520–518 BC, after the return from exile and during the rebuilding of the temple.
Who is named as the author of Zechariah?
The author is identified as Zechariah son of Berechiah.
What textual evidence connects the book to Zechariah?
The opening verse provides the evidence: “The word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah” (Zechariah 1:1).
Who was the original audience?
The audience is described as the returned Jewish exiles.
What was Zechariah’s message about in that time?
The book urged the returned exiles to rebuild and looked ahead to the coming King, aligning with the setting of post-exile temple rebuilding.