Jeberechiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Jeberechiah was the father of Zechariah, a prophet mentioned in the Book of Isaiah. He is known to us only through a single verse in which the prophet Isaiah records that he took “faithful witnesses to record” for an important occasion: “And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah” (Isaiah 8:2). Beyond this, Scripture tells us nothing else about Jeberechiah himself.
The setting is a critical moment in Isaiah’s ministry. Isaiah had been commanded to write concerning a coming judgment and to seal the testimony among his disciples. To establish the matter legally and publicly, he summoned two witnesses. One was Uriah the priest; the other was Zechariah, identified by his father’s name, Jeberechiah. In ancient Israel, witnesses were essential for confirming a matter, and the naming of Zechariah’s father served to identify him precisely among the people.
What Scripture says of Jeberechiah is therefore indirect. He is not recorded as speaking, acting, or receiving any word from God. He appears only as the father of a man chosen to serve as a faithful witness to Isaiah’s prophecy. Yet this single mention places him within the sacred record, a link in the chain of a family whose son stood as a witness to the word of the Lord in a time of national crisis.
The Name
The name Jeberechiah is a Hebrew name whose meaning is not clearly recoverable with certainty. It appears to be a theophoric name, meaning it likely contains a reference to the LORD (Yahweh) within it, and it may carry a sense related to blessing or exaltation, but the precise meaning is debated among scholars and cannot be stated with confidence. Since the meaning is not well established, it is best to say plainly that the full significance of the name is uncertain rather than to invent a definition.
A Closing Thought
Jeberechiah never speaks a word in Scripture, yet his name is preserved because his son was faithful. He reminds us that much of our lives is hidden, and that our greatest contribution may be the faith we pass on to those who come after us. We may never see the full fruit of our quiet obedience, but God remembers. Like Jeberechiah, we can be content to be a link in a chain, trusting that the Lord will use what we build in others for His purposes long after our own names are forgotten.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Isaiah 8:2 — And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.