Zechariah

the priest, John’s father

Who was Zechariah?

He was a priest and the husband of Elizabeth. Luke 1:5
He was left unable to speak. After his son was born, he wrote “John is his name,” and then he spoke again. Luke 1:20; Luke 1:59-64

The name: In Hebrew it means “the Lord remembers.” Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Zacharias”
Occupation: Priest of the division of Abijah; he served in the Temple Luke 1:5, 8-9
Feast day: September 23: Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of Saint John the Baptist

What the Bible says

Luke 1:5

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

Luke 1:20; Luke 1:59-64

And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Zechariah

Before Jesus. He was a priest of the division of Abijah and the husband of Elizabeth. Luke 1:5
Before Jesus. Both were righteous, but they had no children, and they were already old. Luke 1:6-7
Before Jesus. While he was offering incense in the Temple, the angel Gabriel told him he would have a son. Luke 1:9-13, 19
Before Jesus. He did not believe the angel, and because of that he was left unable to speak. Luke 1:18-20
With Jesus. Mary, who was expecting Jesus, came to Zechariah’s house and stayed about three months. Luke 1:40, 42, 56
With Jesus. Eight days after his son was born, he wrote on a tablet that the boy’s name was John. Then he spoke again. Luke 1:59, 63-64
With Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed God with a song: the Benedictus. Luke 1:67-68

Words of Zechariah

“Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” Luke 1:18

To the angel Gabriel, in the Temple, when the angel told him he would have a son.

“John is his name.” Luke 1:63

He did not say it: he wrote it on a tablet, because he could not speak.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people.” Luke 1:68

When he could speak again, filled with the Holy Spirit. These are the first words of the Benedictus.

“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.” Luke 1:76

In that same song, speaking to his newborn son.

“To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79

At the end of the Benedictus.

What they were like

He was righteous before God, like his wife: he kept all the Lord’s commandments. Luke 1:6
When he saw the angel beside the altar, he was troubled, and fear came over him. Luke 1:11-12

The greatest thing they did

Filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed God with a song: the Benedictus. Luke 1:67-79
He obeyed the angel: he named his son John. Luke 1:13; Luke 1:63

Not to be confused with

He is another Zechariah: a prophet who preached about 500 years before Jesus. A book of the Bible bears his name. Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Zacharias”

In the Church today

Feast day: September 23, Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of Saint John the Baptist (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

Zechariah in art

What people ask

Why was Zechariah unable to speak?

Because he did not believe what the angel told him. He spoke again when he wrote his son’s name. Luke 1:20; Luke 1:63-64

What is the Benedictus?

It is the song in which Zechariah blessed God after his son was born. The Church prays it every morning, at Morning Prayer. Luke 1:67-79; General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours 50

Was Zechariah a priest?

Yes, of the division of Abijah. One day he was chosen by lot to offer incense in the Temple. Luke 1:5; Luke 1:8-9

Which angel appeared to him?

Gabriel, the same angel who later visited Mary. Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26

Was Zechariah deaf too?

Luke says he could not speak, and that people made signs to ask him things. Luke doesn’t say plainly whether he could hear. Luke 1:22; Luke 1:62

Daily life He was a priest of the division of Abijah, one of the 24 divisions that served in the Temple. Luke 1:5; NABRE note on Lc 1, 5 Each…

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Who Zechariah is connected to

Elizabeth · husband and wife
John the Baptist · father and son

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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