Zechariah, Son of Jehoiada
A righteous priest and martyr during the Divided Monarchy who was executed by King Joash for rebuking the idolatry of Judah.
Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, was a high-ranking priest in the Kingdom of Judah during the 9th century BC. He lived during the reign of King Joash, a monarch whose early years were characterized by spiritual reform under the mentorship of Zechariah’s father, the High Priest Jehoiada. However, after the death of Jehoiada, the political and spiritual landscape of Judah shifted dramatically toward apostasy.
Zechariah is most prominently remembered for his courageous stand against this national decline. Moved by the Spirit of God, he confronted the assembly of Judah to warn them that their abandonment of the LORD would lead to their own abandonment by God. His life ended in a tragic martyrdom that echoed through biblical history, cited by Jesus Christ as a pinnacle of righteous suffering.
Background and Family
Zechariah was born into the upper echelons of the Judean priesthood. His father, Jehoiada, was the High Priest who famously orchestrated the coup to overthrow the usurper Queen Athaliah and place the young Joash on the throne (2 Chronicles 23). His mother, Jehosheba, was a princess of Judah, the daughter of King Jehoram, making Zechariah a cousin to King Joash. This royal and priestly lineage placed Zechariah in a unique position of influence and responsibility within the Divided Monarchy.
Growing up in the shadow of the Temple, Zechariah witnessed the restoration of the house of the LORD. His family was instrumental in preserving the Davidic line; had his parents not hidden Joash from Athaliah’s massacre, the lineage of David would have been extinguished. Zechariah inherited a legacy of fierce loyalty to Yahweh and a commitment to the Mosaic Law.
Major Life Events
Following the death of his father Jehoiada at the age of 130, the spiritual climate in Jerusalem deteriorated. King Joash, influenced by the officials of Judah, turned away from the Temple and began to worship Asherah poles and idols. Despite the warnings of various prophets sent by God, the people refused to listen.
According to 2 Chronicles 24:20, the Spirit of God "came upon" (literally "clothed") Zechariah. He stood before the people in the Temple court and delivered a sharp indictment:
"This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’"
This prophecy was met with immediate hostility. Rather than repenting, the officials conspired against Zechariah. With the explicit order of King Joash—the very man Zechariah’s family had saved and raised—the people stoned Zechariah to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s Temple. As he lay dying, Zechariah’s final words were, "May the LORD see this and call them to account."
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Zechariah’s most significant and complex relationship was with King Joash. The betrayal represented in Zechariah’s execution is noted in the biblical text as a profound act of ingratitude; Joash "did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him" (2 Chronicles 24:22).
In the New Testament, Zechariah is elevated as a representative of all righteous martyrs. In Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51, Jesus refers to him as "Zechariah son of Berechiah" (a name likely identifying him with the priestly lineage or a scribal gloss linking him to the broader prophetic tradition) who was murdered "between the temple and the altar." By naming Abel as the first martyr and Zechariah as the last (in the order of the Hebrew Tanakh, where Chronicles is the final book), Jesus bookends the history of the persecution of God's messengers.
Spiritual Significance
Zechariah serves as a archetype of the suffering prophet who pays the ultimate price for speaking truth to power. His ministry highlights the recurring biblical theme of the "remnant" and the "Spirit-filled witness" who stands against the majority. His death marked a turning point for the Kingdom of Judah; shortly after his murder, the Syrian army invaded, and Joash was eventually assassinated by his own officials in retribution for the "blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest."
Theological tradition views Zechariah’s plea for divine justice ("May the LORD see this") not as a cry for personal revenge, but as a prophetic invocation of the covenantal consequences of idolatry and murder. His blood, shed in the most sacred space of Israel, remained a testimony against the generation that rejected the LORD.
Spiritual Significance
Theologically, Zechariah son of Jehoiada represents the intersection of the priestly and prophetic offices. While he was a priest by birth, his actions in 2 Chronicles 24:20 demonstrate a classic prophetic calling, where the Spirit of God compels a man to speak a word of judgment to a rebellious nation. His martyrdom is considered a watershed moment in the spiritual history of the Divided Monarchy, signaling the depths of depravity into which the Davidic kings had fallen.
In the context of the New Testament, Jesus uses Zechariah’s death to condemn the religious hypocrisy of His own day. By linking Zechariah to Abel, Jesus identifies a long-standing pattern of rejecting God's Word. Zechariah’s blood is treated as a foundational witness that requires a divine accounting, emphasizing the gravity of rejecting those whom God sends to call His people to repentance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, die?
He was stoned to death by the people of Judah in the courtyard of the Temple at the command of King Joash.
Why did King Joash kill Zechariah?
Joash ordered his execution because Zechariah, under the influence of the Spirit of God, publicly rebuked the King and the people for their idolatry and transgression of God's commandments.
Who were Zechariah's parents?
His father was Jehoiada the High Priest, and his mother was Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram.
What were Zechariah's final words?
His final words as he was dying were, 'May the LORD see this and call them to account.'
Where is Zechariah mentioned in the New Testament?
Jesus mentions him in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51 as a righteous martyr murdered between the altar and the sanctuary.
Connected Figures
Categories
Mentions by Book
- 2 Chronicles1
- Luke1
- Matthew1
Family & Relationships
Parent
Jehoiada, High Priest of the Divided Monarchy
2 Kings 11:4
Parent
2 Kings 11:2
Others Named Zechariah
Zechariah, Son of Isshiah1 Chronicles 24:25
A Levite of the Uzzielite clan who served during the Divided Monarchy as a descendant of Kohath.
Zechariah, Father of John the BaptistLuke 1:5
A righteous priest of the division of Abijah who was momentarily struck mute for his disbelief before fathering John the Baptist in his old age.
Zechariah, Son of Jehoshaphat2 Chronicles 21:2
A prince of Judah and son of King Jehoshaphat, Zechariah was one of several brothers who were tragically murdered by their sibling Jehoram upon his accession to the throne.
Zechariah, Levite of the Divided Monarchy2 Chronicles 34:12
A Kohathite Levite who served as a faithful overseer during the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem under King Josiah.
Zechariah of the Tribe of Reuben1 Chronicles 5:7
A Reubenite tribal leader recorded in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles during the era of the Divided Monarchy.
Zechariah, Prophet of the ReturnZechariah 1:1
A prominent post-exilic prophet who, alongside Haggai, urged the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Darius I.
Zechariah, Descendant of ParoshEzra 8:3
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Zechariah, Priest of the ReturnNehemiah 12:16
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Zechariah, Son of JeberechiahIsaiah 8:2
A reliable citizen and witness of Judah during the reign of King Ahaz, chosen by God to attest to Isaiah's prophetic sign.
Zechariah, Descendant of ElamEzra 10:26
A returning Jewish exile from the family of Elam who was involved in the post-exilic reforms led by Ezra in Jerusalem.
Zechariah, Son of Jeroboam2 Kings 14:29
Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam II, was the final king of the Jehu dynasty in Israel, reigning for only six months before his assassination.
Zechariah, Father of Jahaziel2 Chronicles 20:14
A Levite descendant of Asaph during the Divided Monarchy whose lineage was chosen for a significant prophetic announcement during the reign of King Jehoshaphat.
Zechariah, Official of Jehoshaphat2 Chronicles 17:7
One of five high-ranking officials commissioned by King Jehoshaphat to educate the people of Judah in the Law of the LORD.
Zechariah, Leader of the ReturnEzra 8:16
A Jewish leader summoned by Ezra during the post-exilic journey from Babylon to Jerusalem to assist in the restoration of the community.
Zechariah, descendant of Asaph2 Chronicles 29:13
A Levite of the Asaphite clan who participated in the sanctification and restoration of the Temple under the direction of King Hezekiah during the Divided Monarchy.
Zechariah, Descendant of JudahNehemiah 11:4
A descendant of Judah and the house of Perez who served as a vital genealogical link for the community resettling Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Zechariah, Father of Iddo1 Chronicles 27:21
The father of Iddo, a high-ranking tribal official over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead during the reign of King David.
Zechariah, Father of Abi2 Kings 18:2
The father of Queen Abi and grandfather of King Hezekiah, whose lineage was instrumental in the religious reforms of Judah.
Zechariah, Son of PashhurNehemiah 11:12
A Levite of the post-exilic period who served as a temple worker and genealogical link during the repopulation of Jerusalem.
Zechariah, Descendant of ShelahNehemiah 11:5
A member of the tribe of Judah and the house of Shelah whose lineage was essential to the post-exilic resettlement of Jerusalem.
Zechariah, Administrator of the House of God2 Chronicles 35:8
A high-ranking official and administrator of the Temple who provided substantial sacrifices during King Josiah's historic Passover celebration.
Zechariah, Son of Meshelemiah1 Chronicles 9:21
A Levite gatekeeper of the Korahite clan known as a wise counselor who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Zechariah, Son of Hosah1 Chronicles 26:11
A Merarite Levite during the Divided Monarchy who served as a gatekeeper in the Tabernacle and Temple administration.
Zechariah, Instructor to Uzziah2 Chronicles 26:5
A godly mentor and spiritual advisor who instructed King Uzziah of Judah in the fear of the LORD during the Divided Monarchy.
Zechariah, Priest of the DedicationNehemiah 12:41
A priest and trumpeter who participated in the formal dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah.
Zechariah, Musician of the Post-Exilic PeriodNehemiah 12:35
A priest and trumpet player who participated in the joyous dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah.
Zechariah, Attendee of the Law ReadingNehemiah 8:4
A prominent leader or dignitary who stood at the left hand of Ezra during the historic public reading and explanation of the Law of Moses in Jerusalem.
Zechariah, Son of BebaiEzra 8:11
A member of the clan of Bebai who joined Ezra’s caravan during the second wave of Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem.