Zechariah is categorized as one of the minor old testament prophets, but he is one of the most important minor prophets we have. The new testament authors directly quote or allude to zechariahs content on some forty separate occasions. Zechariah verse by verse bible commentary matthew henry. The books of haggai and zechariah represent a golden period in old testament history, but they are often overlooked. Turn ye unto me, saith the lord of hosts, and i will turn unto you, saith the lord of hosts. Aug 07, 2016 here you can find quick, 3minute guides to every book of the old testament. Zechariah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Conclusion literature few books of the old testament are as difficult of interpretation as the book of zechariah. In that respect, its possible to think of the book of zechariah as a kind of miniature book of isaiah.
Gives an overview of the history of interpretation, an outline of the contents of the book, an introduction to key themes, and a brief bibliography. Parallel passages in new testament quoted from old testament the list contains not only the direct or indirect citations, but also the allusions which are particularly worthy of attention. The other prominent zechariah was a priest, the father of john the baptist luke 1. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc. Zechariahs amazing prophecy of the betrayal of christ. Different sects and denominations may have different books in their canons. This zechariah has of old been connected with 2 chronicles 24. Book of zechariah overview insight for living ministries. Zechariah pictures christ in both his first coming zechariah 9. The book of zechariah new international commentary on the.
Zechariah in the bible scripture quotes and summary. Addressing controversies surrounding the book, he orients readers to the overall flow of the text as well as its enduring significance in judeochristian thought. Zechariah is a commonly used name in the old testament and means the lord remembers, a meaning that contributes to the hope of the messiahs first and second coming prophesied in zechariah s book. Book of zephaniah, also called sophonias, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. It is the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets or shorter prophets, following haggai, zechariahs contemporary, and preceding malachi. The book of zechariah was likely written in two primary segments, between 520 and 470 b. The book of zechariah contains the clearest and the largest number of messianic about the messiah passages among the minor prophets. The 14 chapters are largely given over to prophetic symbols of the future. Zekaryah, means yahweh remembers, or yahweh has remembered. Zechariah is a commonly used name in the old testament and means the lord remembers, a meaning that contributes to the hope of the messiahs first and second coming prophesied in zechariahs book. The book of zechariah, attributed to the hebrew prophet zechariah, is included in the twelve. And we now know that zechariah wrote some things about jesus.
The book is particularly timely today as it focuses on the siege of jerusalem by the collective gentile powers on planet earth a circumstance that is shaping up as you are reading this article. Which books did the new testament authors most often reference as they wrote of the coming of jesus the messiah. The traditional view is that this man was a sixthcentury contemporary of haggai and that the entire book was written by him. Jan 30, 2011 a brief summary of each of the books of the old testament bible and their genre. The book of ezra names zechariah as the son of iddo ezra 5.
The main theme of the book is that god is at work and plans to live again with. Zechariah s book, however, is longer and has much more variety than haggais. Oct 01, 2001 some call the book of zechariah, the apocalypse of the old testament. Before the temple completed, and then wrote chapters 914 approximately 480 b. Theyre listed in the order they show up in protestant bibles. Zechariah crowns joshua, son of jehozadak, the high priest 6. Only chapters 18 contain the prophecies of zechariah. This book is second only to isaiah in the breadth of the prophets writings about messiah. New international commentary on the old testament nicot 9780802823755 by mark j. The book of zechariah teaches that salvation may be obtained by all. The historical setting of the book is identical with that of haggai cp. The book of zechariah has been called the most messianic of all the old testament books. God rules on fasts, promises blessing for jerusalem 7.
The author identifies himself in the first verse as the prophet zechariah, son of berechiah son of iddo. The universal tradition of both jews and christians endorses the prophet zechariah as author. Abel then would be a man out of the first and zechariah a man out of the last book of the old testament. Some modern interpreters believe that what we know as one book was originally two books zech.
The book of zechariah is the most recent volume of the new international commentary on the old testament, edited by robert l. David, the messiah in the typical old testament sense of the anointed king. One was an old testament prophet who foretold in the days of haggai and who composed the book of zechariah ezra 5. Thats the message that the lord gives zechariah to start off this book of the recorded prophecies that were given to him. Lindsey, zechariah, in the bible knowledge commentary. Some call the book of zechariah, the apocalypse of the old testament. The depths of grace a good book guide the good book company stephen witmer n y 6 nold testament zechariah. Old testament overview general survey of the old testament. Accordingly christ at the last supper speaks of the blood of the new testament. Genesis the book of genesis uses narrative form to tell us god created the universe and our world. Zechariah the book of zechariah the king james version. Book of zechariah, the 11th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in the jewish canon in one book, the twelve. Although the name zechariah was common among the hebrew people twentyeight zechariahs are mentioned in the old testament, there are bible teachers who identify the zechariah of this book with the zacharias whom our lord mentioned in matthew 23. Nonetheless, it is the book of zechariah among the minor prophets that is most often quoted in the new testament, so it was well known.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Overview of the book of zechariah third millennium ministries. Watch our overview video on the book of zechariah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. A harmony of the life of jesus four gospel accounts in harmony. Like the book of revelation, zechariah is a book of prophecy. Most bible scholars see zechariah s predictions in chapters 7 to 14 as messianic prophecies. The book of zechariah is a prophetic book in the christian old testament. The book of zechariah then speak to him, saying, thus says the lord of hosts, saying. Zechariah the book of zechariah has often been called the revelation of the old testament. A bibliographic survey deo, and editor of seventeen volumes. Zechariah is the thirtyeighth and next to last book of the protestant old testament. Brown, the gospel according to john ixii in the anchor bible, 29.
After each book title, i include the number of times the new testament quotes from that book. Exploring zechariah, volume 1 the development of zechariah and its role within the twelve mark j. Some modern interpreters believe that what we know as one book was originally two books. The book of zechariah crazy dreams and misrepresenting god posted on august 17, 20 by virgowriter change does not always happen quickly, and sometimes the people that call for it finally have their patience rewarded when it does arrive. Commentary on the new testament use of the old testament.
These two minor prophets speak a major message to the church today. The book of zechariah center point bible institute. Iddo was a priest who returned to jerusalem with zerubbabel, the first jewish governor of jerusalem after the jews return from the babylonian exile see nehemiah 12. The messiah will come again, be accepted, and will rule 12. Because you have forsaken the lord, he also has forsaken you. There are many commentaries about the book of zechariah available at this moment but new international commentary on the old testament the book of zechariah, is a step above the herd. Zechariah overview james burton coffman commentaries on the. Below are 39 books from the old testament and 27 from the new testament all of which list the author and chapters, as well as the approximated dates. Its theme is to set forth the program of god, which is also the theme of the book of revelation. The method of procedure required in the criticism of the old testament is widely different from that practiced in the criticism of the new testament. Book of zechariah, also spelled zacharias, the 11th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in the jewish canon in one book, the twelve. God showed zechariah many strange pictures to encourage the people in jerusalem. Matthias mediaon that day interactive bible studies tim mcmahon ny 8 old testament zechariah.
When zechariah is called by the lord, the 70 years are up zech. Zechariah emphasized that god has used his prophets to teach, warn and correct his people. The latter prophets follow psalms and the wisdom books in the greek septuagint, as well as our christian old testament of the bible. Just click any books name, and get a highlevel idea of what its about. He was the son of berechiah, who was the son of iddo see zechariah 1. The book of zechariah introduces the prophet as the son of berechiah, the son of iddo zechariah 1. Overview of the book of zechariah reformed answers to. Psalms 68 times isaiah 55 deuteronomy 44 genesis 35 exodus 31 leviticus.
Boda is professor of old testament at mcmaster divinity college. The prophets had knowledge of a new covenant to which the one concluded on mount sinai should give away. One was an old testament prophet who prophesied in the days of haggai and who wrote the book of zechariah ezra 5. His book contains visions with strange symbols, prose as well as poetry, and many messianic prophecies. There were a couple of prominent men in the bible named zechariah alternate spelling zacharias or zachariah. The reason for this supposition is probably that in the hebrew bible the chronicles are placed at the very end.
In this book, zechariah s visions foster hope in the future promise of. Gods big plan for struggling christians a good book guide the good book company tim chester n y 6 nold testament. Several new commentaries on the book of zechariah have appeared during the. Christ in the book of zechariah bethel chapel luton. The prophet zechariah s name means \god has remembered. Brief commentary on the book of zechariah the book of zechariah is called the apocalypse of the old testament.
In his book, zechariah promised preservation for israel during the times of the. Zechariah wrote about some things that would happen during his own life. Because of his family lineage, zechariah was a priest in addition to a prophet. It is the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets or shorter prophets, following haggai, zechariah s contemporary, and preceding malachi. In addition the canonical history of the book of zechariah has always included all fourteen chapters in the book. The book of zechariah is in the old testament part of the bible. Zechariah 1 8, sometimes referred to as first zechariah, was written in the 6th century bc. The book of zechariah challenges gods people to remain. Zechariah was a prophet who lived in the 6th century before the birth of christ. Unlocking the old testament part 57 zechariah 1 youtube. It stands as gods remarkable witness to the folly of despising small beginnings. Zechariah was a person in the hebrew bible and traditionally considered the author of the.
Brief commentary on the book of zechariah harbor bible. The book of zechariah is recognized as the most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic, and the most eschatological of all the writings of the ot isbe, 1956 referenced by dr. Written in 520 bc to the jews returning from the babylonian exile, zechariah encourages and exhorts gods people by laying out. The contention is that chapters 914 were not authored by zechariah, but a work appended to zechariah by a later redactor.
Zechariah was one of the minor prophets of the old testament. Zechariah assures his people that the lord will deal with the nations who harm them, but also, some gentiles will join them. His name, common to more than 29 old testament men, means the lord remembers. Zechariahs book, however, is longer and has much more variety than haggais. Baldwin writes, even the tiny fragment of the greek manuscript found at qumran, which includes the end of chapter 8 and the beginning of chapter 9, shows no gap or spacing whatsoever to suggest a break between the two parts. First of all, opposition from enemies who strove to cause gods work to cease. This list has the top 10 most quoted old testament books. These pictures explained good things that god would do in the future. The last book of the old testament was written by the prophet. The book of zechariah new international commentary on the old. John the baptists father luke tells us zechariah was chosen by lot that morning to offer incense in the holy place, the temples inner chamber where only priests were allowed. Zechariah, on the other hand, experienced god through visions. This prophet is also mentioned by jesus as having been murdered by the rebellious and disobedient jews of his day matthew 23.
The bible is a collection of books that are canonized in judaism and christianity and are considered holy and sacred. From his place he shall branch out, and he shall build the temple of the lord. The book of zechariah new international commentary on the old testament nicot boda, mark j. Book of zechariah, also spelled zacharias, the 11th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in the jewish canon in one. The first part of the book, chapters one through eight, contain eight symbolic visions of zechariah. An angel restores the high priest joshua in zechariah 3. Not much is known about zechariah s life other than what may be inferred from the book.
It will be this zechariah discussed in this article. But chapters 9 to 14 of the book of zechariah are an early example of apocalyptic literature. Many of these were interpreted for his benefit by an accompanying angel. I will say, they are my people, and they will say, the lord is our god. The book of zechariah, because of its great variation in style, content, and language, is widely believed to be a composite work. The prophet zechariah wrote chapters 18 approximately 520518 b. Best commentaries and books on zechariah logos bible. However, we do know that zechariah lived in jerusalem soon after the return of the jews from their exile in babylon. Zechariah, also spelled zacharias, flourished 6th century bc, jewish prophet whose preachings are recorded in one of the shorter prophetical books in the old testament, the book of zechariah q. The justification for this bifurcation is generally argued along several lines. The word testament, hebrew berith, greek diatheke, primarily signifies the covenant which god entered into first with abraham, then with the people of israel.
The book of zechariah has been called the apocalypse of the old testament. Certainly, these prophecies help shed light on jesus suffering, death and resurrection. Zechariah 1 niv a call to return to the lord in the bible gateway. He was one of those captives in babylon but, under the leadership of a political ruler whose name was zerubbabel, zechariah, together with some 50,000 of his hebrew kinsmen, returned to their native palestine cir. Its one that calls us as a community of faith to the priority of gods house and. Boda as an amazon associate, if you use the link above, we receive a small percentage from qualifying purchases. The book of zechariah new international commentary on the old testament mark j. Why do you transgress the commandments of the lord, so that you cannot prosper. Zechariah s prophetic ministry took place in the postexilic period, the time of the jewish restoration from babylonian captivity. As zechariah was praying, the angel gabriel appeared at the right side of the altar. New testament overview general survey of the new testament. Few books of the old testament are as difficult of interpretation as the book of zechariah. Original bible history online visit the original site 19992016.
The book of zechariah is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre. This summary of the book of zechariah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of zechariah. I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. The general consensus of critical scholarship holds that the book of zechariah is not one book but two. Then the spirit of god came upon zechariah the son of jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, thus says god. Most modern scholars believe the book of zechariah was written by at least two different people. It is a postexilic book, meaning it was written after post the return from captivity exile in babylon. The dates mentioned in the book confirm that he was a contemporary of haggai zechariah 1. It has been speculated that his grandfather iddo was the head of a priestly family who returned with zerubbabel, and that zechariah may himself have been a priest as well as a prophet. The difference is that in zechariah israel is in the foreground and the gentile nations in the background, while in the book.
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