Barachias, also spelled Berechiah, is a biblical figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew. The name Barachias means "Yahweh blesses" or "blessed by the Lord" in Hebrew. This entry explores the identity and significance of Barachias within the biblical narrative.

Biblical Reference:

Barachias is mentioned in Matthew 23:35, where Jesus addresses the scribes and Pharisees, condemning them for their hypocrisy and the bloodshed of the righteous. The verse reads: "And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar" .

Identity and Historical Context:

The reference to "Zechariah son of Barachias" has been a subject of scholarly discussion and debate. The identity of this Zechariah is not explicitly detailed in the Old Testament, leading to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest that this Zechariah could be the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, who authored the Book of Zechariah. This prophet was active during the post-exilic period and was instrumental in encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

However, the historical records in the Old Testament do not mention the prophet Zechariah being murdered in the manner described by Jesus. This has led some to propose that Jesus might have been referring to another Zechariah, possibly the son of Jehoiada, who was stoned to death in the court of the house of the Lord during the reign of King Joash, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22. This Zechariah, however, is not identified as the son of Barachias, which adds complexity to the identification.

Theological Significance:

The mention of Barachias in Matthew 23:35 serves as a powerful rhetorical device used by Jesus to illustrate the continuity of persecution against God's messengers throughout history. By referencing the blood of Abel, the first martyr, and Zechariah, Jesus encapsulates the entire history of righteous suffering, from the beginning of the biblical narrative to the present. This underscores the gravity of the religious leaders' actions and their accountability for the rejection and persecution of God's prophets.

Interpretative Challenges:

The identification of Zechariah son of Barachias remains a topic of debate among biblical scholars. Some propose that the discrepancy in the father's name could be a textual or scribal error, while others suggest that Jesus might have been referring to a lesser-known figure or using a composite reference to make a theological point. Despite these challenges, the passage highlights the broader theme of prophetic witness and martyrdom, which is central to the biblical narrative.

In summary, Barachias is a figure whose mention in the New Testament serves to emphasize the historical pattern of opposition to God's messengers. The ambiguity surrounding his identity invites deeper exploration into the themes of prophecy, martyrdom, and divine justice within the biblical text.Barachias

same as Barachel

Barachias

(Matthew 23:35) [ZACHARIAS]

4 (q.v.), whom Jehovah hath blessed, father of the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1:1, 7; Matthew 23:35). BARACHIAS

bar-a-ki'-as.

See BARACHIAH.

914. Barachias -- Barachiah, the father of a man killed in the ...
... 913, 914. Barachias. 915 . ... Barachias. Of Hebrew origin (Berekyah); Barachias
(ie Berechijah), an Israelite -- Barachias. see HEBREW Berekyah. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/914.htm - 6k

The King's Farewell
... That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the kings farewell.htm

A Letter from Origen to Africanus.
... that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens letters/a letter from origen to.htm

The Measure of Sin.
... that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xliv the measure of sin.htm

Unless the Flesh were to be Saved, the Word Would not have Taken ...
... All righteous blood shall be required which is shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom ye ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiv unless the flesh were.htm

The Saint's Heritage and Watchword
... From the day when first Cain with his club struck his brother Abel and laid him
low, down to the time Zacharias the son of Barachias"from that time until now ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/the saints heritage and watchword.htm

"Woe unto You, Because Ye Build the Tombs of the Prophets, and ...
... that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom ye ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxiv woe unto you.htm

Last Journey of Jesus to Jerusalem.
... That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias,[2] whom ye ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxi last journey of.htm

Fire! Fire! Fire!
... From the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zecharias the son of Barachias,
the pathway of the Church hath been a blood-besprinkled time. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/fire fire fire.htm

Letters of the Emperors Valentinianus and Valens, Written to the ...
... [692] It is to be observed that the imperial letter does not add the probably
interpolated words "son of Barachias" which are a difficulty in Matthew 23:35 ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter vii letters of the emperors.htm

That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian ...
... Zacharias, the son of Baruch," here most unjustly slain by the Jews in the temple,
was the very same person with "Zacharias, the son of Barachias," whom our ...
/.../chapter 11 that upon the.htm

Barachias (1 Occurrence)
... 35). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BARACHIAS. bar-a-ki'-as. See BARACHIAH.
Multi-Version Concordance Barachias (1 Occurrence). Matthew ...
/b/barachias.htm - 7k

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)
... (2.) The "son of Barachias," mentioned as having been slain between the temple
and the altar (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51). "Barachias...
/z/zacharias.htm - 15k

Barachiah (3 Occurrences)
... BARACHIAH. bar-a-ki'-a (Barachias; the King James Version Barachias; Matthew
23:35): Father of Zachariah who was murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. ...
/b/barachiah.htm - 8k

Barachi'ah (1 Occurrence)
Barachi'ah. Barachiah, Barachi'ah. Barachias . Multi-Version Concordance
Barachi'ah (1 Occurrence). ... Barachiah, Barachi'ah. Barachias . Reference Bible.
/b/barachi'ah.htm - 6k

Poured (155 Occurrences)
... you may come all the righteous blood being poured out on the earth from the blood
of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye ...
/p/poured.htm - 37k

Barah (1 Occurrence)

/b/barah.htm - 6k

Slew (206 Occurrences)
... 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye ...
/s/slew.htm - 38k

Temple (614 Occurrences)

/t/temple.htm - 101k

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