The Man Whom the LORD Has Blessed
The name Berekiah (Hebrew: Bĕrek-yâhu or Bĕreḵyâ), like its variant Beracah, signifies “The LORD blesses” or “Blessed of the LORD.” This name was common among the Israelites and is associated with at least five different individuals in Scripture, highlighting both priestly and prophetic lineage.
1. Berekiah, Father of the Prophet Zechariah
The most significant figure linked to this name is the grandfather of the prophet Zechariah. The book of the Minor Prophet begins by identifying him:
“In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,” (Zechariah 1:1, KJV)
And again in the New Testament, when Christ condemns the murderous history of 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, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” (Matthew 23:35, KJV)
In this context, Berekiah (or Barachias in the Greek) is part of the crucial line that brought one of the great visionaries and restoration prophets to Judah during the post-exilic period.
2. Berekiah, The Chief of Ephraim
During the reign of King Pekah of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and King Ahaz of Judah (the Southern Kingdom), a Benjamite named Berekiah played a role in a dramatic act of mercy:
“Then four men of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,” (2 Chronicles 28:12, KJV)
When the Northern Kingdom captured a massive number of their southern brethren, these four chiefs, including Berekiah, publicly denounced the captivity as an offense against God. They successfully intervened, forcing the Northern army to release the prisoners, clothe and feed them, and return them to Jericho. This Berekiah is a profound example of righteous leadership and brotherly compassion triumphing over tribal animosity.
3. Berekiah the Levite
Two other Levites bear this name in the records of King David’s organization of Temple duties, placing them in the line of Merari (responsible for Temple maintenance) and the gatekeepers:
- A son of Shimea, one of the chief Levites involved in bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 6:39; 15:17, KJV).
- A gatekeeper and descendant of Obed-edom who was assigned to the north gate (1 Chronicles 26:1, 10-11, KJV).
A Lesson in the Abundance of Blessing
The repeated appearance of Berekiah demonstrates how the name “The LORD hath blessed” defined men who held crucial, often unseen, roles in God’s plan: they were ancestors to the prophets, leaders who practiced merciful justice, and dedicated servants of the Tabernacle and Temple. The life of each Berekiah confirms the truth that God’s blessing is expressed not only in great victories but in the faithfulness of individuals across all aspects of the spiritual and civic life of His people.