Zechariah 1 1

Zechariah 1:1 kjv

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 nkjv

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

Zechariah 1:1 niv

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:

Zechariah 1:1 esv

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,

Zechariah 1:1 nlt

In November of the second year of King Darius's reign, the LORD gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo:

Zechariah 1 verses

Zechariah 1 1 Meaning

Zechariah 1:1 establishes the precise historical setting for the prophetic message, indicating that the divine word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah in the eighth month of the second year of King Darius. This verse identifies Zechariah, through his father Berechiah and grandfather Iddo, as the appointed spokesman for God during a crucial post-exilic period, emphasizing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the subsequent prophecies aimed at the returned Jewish exiles in Jerusalem.

Zechariah 1 1 Context

Zechariah 1:1 provides the foundational context for the entire book. The return from Babylonian exile had occurred over fifteen years prior (circa 538 BC), under Cyrus the Great. The initial fervor for rebuilding the temple had waned, giving way to discouragement, apathy, and preoccupation with personal affairs. By the "second year of Darius" (circa 520 BC), the temple lay in ruins, unfinished, for a decade and a half. This verse establishes Zechariah's prophecy as chronologically linked and synergistic with that of his contemporary, Haggai, both being raised up by the LORD to rebuke the people's negligence and rouse them to complete the temple's reconstruction. Their shared historical backdrop underscored the divine urgency and the specific window of opportunity for God's people to repent and restore their relationship with Him through obedience to His word and re-establishing His dwelling place among them.

Zechariah 1 1 Word analysis

• In the eighth month:

  • Hebrew: בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי (bakhodesh hashmeni)
  • Significance: This precise dating indicates late October or early November 520 BC (Julian calendar), a time often marking the end of the agricultural year and potentially allowing time for winter building. It situates Zechariah's prophecy chronologically two months after Haggai's first prophecy (Hag 1:1, sixth month) and immediately after Haggai's call for work to begin on the temple foundations (Hag 1:15, twenty-fourth day of the sixth month). This specificity underlines the historicity of the event and the divine timing for Israel's restoration efforts.

• in the second year of Darius:

  • Hebrew: בִּשְׁנַת שְׁתַּיִם לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ (bishnat shtayim l'Dareeyavash)
  • Significance: This refers to Darius I Hystaspes (522-486 BC), the Persian king who consolidated the vast Persian Empire. His reign marked a period of relative stability but also challenges for the returned exiles. The meticulous chronological detail highlights that God's plan unfolds within specific human history and under observable geopolitical realities, not as an abstract notion.

• the word of the LORD came:

  • Hebrew: דְּבַר־יְהוָה הָיָה (debar YHWH hayah)
  • Debar YHWH: "Word of the LORD" is a foundational prophetic formula, appearing over 250 times in the Old Testament. It denotes a direct, authoritative, and active communication from God.
  • YHWH: The personal, covenant name of God (Tetragrammaton), signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His commitment to His covenant people.
  • Hayah: "Came" or "happened" or "became," indicating that God's word is not merely information but an event, a dynamic reality that actively intervenes in human affairs. This phrase underlines that the message originates solely from God, lending it ultimate authority and demanding an obedient response from the recipients.

• to Zechariah:

  • Hebrew: אֶל־זְכַרְיָה (el Zekharyah)
  • Zekharyah: Meaning "YHWH has remembered" or "The LORD remembers." This name itself carries prophetic weight, assuring a discouraged people that God had not forgotten them or His covenant promises, despite their current humble state and past disobedience. He is the specific human recipient and messenger.

• the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo:

  • Hebrew: בֶּן־בֶּרֶכְיָה בֶּן־עִדּוֹ (ben Berekhyah ben Iddo)
  • Berechiah: Meaning "YHWH blesses." This further emphasizes the Lord's character and ongoing blessing upon His chosen.
  • Iddo: Likely the head of a priestly family (Neh 12:4, 12:16), suggesting Zechariah may have been from a priestly line himself, providing additional credibility and linking him to the temple community central to his prophecy. This lineage establishes Zechariah's bona fides to the original audience, who would have valued a prophet's family background. It helps distinguish him from other Zechariahs in scripture.

• the prophet:

  • Hebrew: הַנָּבִיא (hanavi)
  • Significance: This title explicitly confirms Zechariah's divine calling and office. It denotes one who speaks by inspiration from God, a mouthpiece for the divine. It establishes his authority and underscores that his messages are not personal opinions but God's direct words.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius": This precise dual dating grounds the divine revelation in human history. It sets a definite timestamp, correlating with the return from exile and the crucial period of temple reconstruction, emphasizing that God's plan unfolds within specific, verifiable moments in time and space.
• "the word of the LORD came to Zechariah": This classic prophetic commissioning formula highlights the unidirectional flow of truth—from the sovereign LORD, Yahweh, directly to His chosen messenger, Zechariah. It underlines the divine origin and authoritative nature of the ensuing messages, placing the prophet as a recipient and proclaimer, not the source, of truth.
• "Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet": This full identification serves to establish Zechariah's identity and authority. The mention of his father and grandfather provides an important lineage, possibly connecting him to the priestly lines, thereby enhancing his credibility to the post-exilic community grappling with identity and divine will. The concluding "the prophet" formally seals his role as God's anointed messenger.

Zechariah 1 1 Bonus section

• The timing in Zechariah 1:1 is crucial for understanding its relationship with the book of Haggai. While Haggai's initial prophecies begin in the "sixth month" of the same year (Hag 1:1), prompting the rebuilding effort to recommence in the ninth month (Hag 2:10), Zechariah's first recorded message here in the "eighth month" likely acts as an additional impetus and reinforcement to encourage and correct the people, ensuring their continued obedience and diligence in temple construction.
• Zechariah, as a post-exilic prophet, occupies a unique place in prophetic literature. While pre-exilic prophets often delivered messages of judgment alongside calls to repentance, Zechariah, alongside Haggai and Malachi, primarily focuses on restoration, covenant renewal, and future glory for the returned remnant.
• The emphasis on "the word of the LORD" coming "to Zechariah" highlights God's continued faithfulness to raise up spokespersons even after His people had endured the judgment of exile. This was a comforting sign that God had not abandoned His people and continued to desire communication and relationship with them.

Zechariah 1 1 Commentary

Zechariah 1:1 is far more than a simple chronological marker; it is the divinely appointed prelude to a crucial segment of post-exilic history and prophecy. By dating the message with such precision—"In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius"—God emphasizes the timeliness and urgency of His communication. This was not a random or general message, but a targeted one for a specific historical moment: when the Jewish exiles, returned to their homeland, had become complacent and neglected the reconstruction of the temple.

The verse clarifies that the source of the message is unequivocally divine—"the word of the LORD came." This recurring prophetic formula stresses God's initiative and sovereign will, establishing the subsequent prophecies as absolute truth and not human opinion. Zechariah, whose name means "YHWH remembers," becomes the perfect vessel to remind a disheartened people that God had indeed remembered His covenant and their plight. His lineage, tracing back through Berechiah to Iddo (potentially a priestly house), not only identifies him distinctly but also adds authority by linking him to the community's established spiritual structure.

This verse therefore serves as an authoritative divine declaration: God is actively present in the midst of His people's historical journey, addressing their apathy and calling them to action. It sets the stage for the rest of Zechariah's prophecies, which pivot on the themes of repentance, restoration, divine intervention, and the ultimate glory of Jerusalem, foreshadowing messianic hope and eschatological triumph, all commencing with God's authoritative "word" delivered to His chosen "prophet."