Definition · Webster 1828 · Scriptures · Corruption · Roots · Usage · In the Text · Related
📖 Biblical Definition
Zacharias is the priest whose name ("Yahweh has remembered") is itself the announcement of what God was doing: after 400 years of prophetic silence between Malachi and Matthew, God was REMEMBERING His covenant by sending the forerunner of Messiah. The story (Luke 1:5-25, 57-80) is one of the most beautifully constructed in Scripture. Zacharias is a priest of the course of Abia (Abijah, one of 24 priestly divisions, 1 Chr 24:10); his wife Elisabeth is barren and they are both "well stricken in years." When his division's turn comes to minister in the temple, he is chosen by lot to enter the holy place and burn incense. Inside, the angel Gabriel appears and announces that Elisabeth will bear a son to be named John, who will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. Zacharias responds with the words of unbelief: "Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years" — the language of Abraham (Gen 15:8) but lacking Abraham's faith. Gabriel rebukes him with a dignified "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings." And then the discipline: Zacharias will be MUTE until the prophecy fulfills. Nine months of silence — a priest who could not pronounce the priestly blessing, a husband who could not speak to his wife about the conception, a father who could not bless the womb. When John is born and Zacharias writes "His name is John" on the tablet, his mouth is opened and he prophesies the Benedictus (Luke 1:67-79) — one of the great canticles of Christianity. The pattern preaches: God disciplines unbelief in those who should know better, but His promises hold regardless of the doubt, and when the long silence ends the song that follows is gospel.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
A priest of the course of Abia, husband of Elisabeth, father of John the Baptist; struck mute for unbelief at Gabriel's announcement; restored when he confirmed his son's name.
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ZACHARIAS, noun. A priest of the course of Abia (Abijah), husband of Elisabeth, father of John the Baptist. Luke 1:5-25, 57-80.
His name means "Yahweh has remembered" — itself the announcement of God breaking 400 years of prophetic silence. Struck mute by Gabriel for unbelief, restored at John's circumcision, sang the Benedictus (Luke 1:67-79).
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 1:13 — "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."
Luke 1:19-20 — "And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words."
Luke 1:67-69 — "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, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David."
Luke 1:76-77 — "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Zacharias is corrupted when his unbelief is excused ("he was just being human") rather than reckoned a real sin that drew real discipline, or when the Benedictus is sentimentalized as nice religious poetry rather than received as Spirit-given prophecy of the gospel breaking.
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Unbelief-excuse reading. Modern sympathetic readings often soft-pedal Zacharias' "Whereby shall I know this?" — "Of course he had doubts; who wouldn't?" But Gabriel does NOT soft-pedal it: "thou shalt be dumb...because thou believest not my words." Unbelief in someone who has been given direct angelic revelation IS a sin, and God disciplines it. The story does not embarrass us about doubt; it warns us that God treats unbelief seriously, especially in those who should know better (priests).
Benedictus sentimentalization. Luke 1:67-79 is one of the great gospel songs of Scripture, sung by a Spirit-filled priest at the birth of the forerunner of Christ. Modern translations often treat it as a poetic outburst — pretty words about God's faithfulness. But the Benedictus is theologically packed: visitation, redemption, horn of salvation in David's house, remission of sins, day-spring from on high, peace. Every line preaches the gospel that John's preaching would soon prepare. To treat it as sentiment rather than as Spirit-prophecy is to lose the canonical weight of the song.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek Zacharias (G2197), Hebrew Zekaryah (H2148) — "Yahweh has remembered"; priest of the course of Abia, father of John the Baptist.
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Greek Zacharias (G2197) — Zacharias; transliteration of Hebrew Zekaryah
Hebrew Zekaryah (H2148) — "Yahweh has remembered"; the name itself announces what God is doing
Priest of the course of Abia (Abijah), one of 24 priestly divisions (1 Chr 24:10) — served in the temple by lot
Sang the Benedictus (Luke 1:67-79) — one of the four great canticles of Luke 1-2 (Magnificat, Benedictus, Gloria, Nunc Dimittis)
Usage
"Zacharias means "Yahweh has remembered" — the priest's very name announced that the 400-year silence was breaking."
"Gabriel struck Zacharias mute for unbelief; God disciplines doubt in those who should know better."
"When the long silence ended, Zacharias sang the Benedictus — the song that follows discipline can preach the gospel."
📖 In the Text
Chapters of the reading Bible where this entry is linked.