Zechariah
Pronounced zek-uh-RY-uh
- Meaning
- "The LORD remembers"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Zechariah means "the LORD remembers" in Hebrew. Multiple important figures bear this name in Scripture. The prophet Zechariah encouraged the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian exile with visions of God's future kingdom and the coming Messiah. In the New Testament, Zechariah the priest was the father of John the Baptist. When the angel Gabriel announced that his aged wife Elizabeth would bear a son, Zechariah doubted and was struck mute until John's birth. His song of praise upon regaining speech — the Benedictus — is one of the great hymns of Scripture. The name's meaning proved prophetic in both cases: God remembered His covenant promises to restore Israel and remembered His promise to send the Messiah's forerunner.
Spiritual meaning
Zechariah's name assures us that God never forgets His promises. Even when fulfillment is delayed by centuries, the LORD remembers every word He has spoken.
Related verses (KJV)
"And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people."
Luke 1:67-68 (KJV) →"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) →