Lexical Summary Barachias: Barachias Original Word: Βαραχίας Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Barachias. Of Hebrew origin (Berekyah); Barachias (i.e. Berechijah), an Israelite -- Barachias. see HEBREW Berekyah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Berekyah Definition Barachiah, the father of a man killed in the temple NASB Translation Berechiah (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 914: ΒαραχίαςΒαραχίας, Βαραχιου, ὁ (בֶּרֶכְיָה, Jehovah blesses), Barachiah in Matthew 23:35 said to have been the father of the Zachariah slain in the temple; cf. Ζαχαρίας. Topical Lexicon Etymology and Theological Meaning Barachiah unites the verb “to bless” with the personal name of the covenant God, conveying the assurance that every true blessing flows from the LORD. Whenever Scripture preserves such theophoric names, it quietly underscores the conviction that God stands at the center of family identity, national history, and personal destiny (Deuteronomy 28:1-10; Psalm 127:3-5). Singular New Testament Occurrence Matthew 23:35 contains the sole use of Barachiah in the Greek New Testament: “so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar”. The name appears only in the genitive form, identifying the father of the Zechariah whom Jesus cites as a martyr. Historical Identification of “Zechariah Son of Berechiah” Several men named Zechariah are found in Scripture, yet two stand out in connection with martyrdom: 1. Zechariah the prophet, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo (Zechariah 1:1). Post-exilic, he ministered along with Haggai, inspiring the rebuilding of the second temple (Ezra 5:1-2). While his death is not recorded in canonical narrative, early Jewish tradition (e.g., the Jerusalem Talmud, Tertullian, Jerome) remembers him as slain in the temple precincts. 2. Zechariah the priest, son of Jehoiada, who rebuked King Joash and was stoned “in the courtyard of the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). Chronicles, being the final book in the Hebrew arrangement of the Old Testament, provides perfect literary book-ends with Genesis—hence the expression “from Abel to Zechariah.” Because Jesus specifies “son of Berechiah,” He evidently alludes to the post-exilic prophet. The parallelism with Abel belongs to a chronological, not merely canonical, sweep: Abel inaugurates the history of murder in Genesis, and Zechariah the prophet stands near the close of recorded Old Testament prophecy, bridging to the New Covenant age. No textual tension stands between Matthew 23:35 and 2 Chronicles 24; rather, two separate Zechariahs met parallel fates, and Jesus deliberately chooses the one whose father’s name reinforces the theme of divine blessing rejected by human violence. Jesus’ Citation and Its Prophetic Force By naming Barachiah, Christ anchors His indictment of the scribes and Pharisees in covenant memory. The prophet Zechariah had labored for temple restoration; now Jesus’ opponents use that very temple as a staging ground for lethal hostility. The contrast is sharp: Barachiah means “Yahweh blesses,” yet the leaders’ actions invert the name’s promise, transforming blessing into bloodshed. Thus Matthew 23:35 constitutes both a lament and a forewarning—pointing ahead to the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 (Matthew 23:38). Canon and Chronology The “Abel … Zechariah” formula stretches from the first book of the Law to the last of the Prophets (Luke 11:51). By including Barachiah in the lineage, Matthew bears witness that the same righteous God oversees all ages, that every innocent death is remembered, and that covenant breakers cannot hide behind heritage or ritual. Prophetic Lineage and Ministry Implications Zechariah’s ministry accentuated repentance (Zechariah 1:3), eschatological hope (Zechariah 14:9-11), and the coming Shepherd-King (Zechariah 9:9-10; Zechariah 13:7). His martyrdom, recalled through his father’s name, foreshadows the rejection of the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ. Accordingly, the reference to Barachiah heightens the moral weight of Matthew 23:35: rejecting prophetic calls culminates in crucifying the Son Himself (Acts 3:13-15). Martyrdom Motif from Abel to Zechariah Both Abel and Zechariah fell at places of worship—Abel at an altar of firstfruits, Zechariah “between the temple and the altar.” Their shared setting underscores the peril of empty religion: those who approach God on their own terms often become the very persecutors of those who approach Him by faith (Hebrews 11:4, 37-38). Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship • Uphold prophetic truth even when opposed by religious institutions. Conclusion Though Barachiah surfaces only once in the New Testament, the name weaves together covenant blessing, prophetic ministry, martyrdom, and the Messiah’s warning. In a single stroke, Matthew 23:35 reaches back to Genesis, forward to the cross, and out to the church’s call to bear faithful witness amid opposition—confident that the God who blesses will also vindicate His servants. Forms and Transliterations Βαραχιου Βαραχίου Barachiou BarachíouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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