Berachiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Berachiah was the father of Asaph, the prominent Levite musician who served in the worship of Israel. He is identified in the genealogical record of the tribe of Levi, specifically in the line of Gershon (Gershom), one of the three sons of Levi. The single verse that names him, 1 Chronicles 6:39, reads: “And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea.” This places Berachiah within the Levitical lineage that was set apart for service in the tabernacle and, later, the temple.
The setting of this passage is the great genealogical survey of Israel recorded in 1 Chronicles, compiled to establish the rightful order of worship and service after the return from exile. In this context, Asaph is listed among the temple singers and musicians appointed by David. Berachiah’s role in the narrative is entirely that of a link in the chain: he is named as the father of Asaph, the man who would become a chief musician and a psalmist whose name is attached to several psalms.
Scripture says nothing else of Berachiah—no deeds, no words, no length of days. He appears once in the King James Bible, and only as an ancestor. Yet his place in the record is not without significance, for the Levitical genealogies were carefully kept so that those who served in the house of God could be rightly identified. Berachiah stands in the background of a son who stood “on his right hand” in the service of praise.
The Name
The name Berachiah is a Hebrew name that is well established in meaning. It is formed from two elements: the verb *barak*, meaning “to bless,” and the divine name *Yah* (a shortened form of Yahweh). The name therefore means “Yahweh has blessed” or “the LORD blesses.” This is a common type of Hebrew name in which a parent’s faith and gratitude are embedded in the name given to a child. The same elements appear in the related name Berechiah, borne by several other individuals in the Old Testament. The meaning is not a matter of conjecture but is clearly recoverable from the Hebrew components of the name.
A Closing Thought
Berachiah never speaks in Scripture, never performs a recorded act, and never receives a word of praise. He is remembered only as the father of Asaph. Yet his name—”the LORD has blessed”—quietly testifies to a faith that was passed down. Long before Asaph stood among the singers of Israel, a father had given him a name that honored God. Most of us will never be the prominent one; we will be the link in the chain behind someone else. That is not a small calling. To raise a child who stands in the LORD’s service is itself a blessing worth naming.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 6:39 — And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,