Josiah יֹאשִׁיָּ֫הוּ
One who provided silver and gold for a crown
Who is Josiah in the Bible?
Josiah, also known as Hen, was the son of Zephaniah mentioned in Zechariah 6:10 and 6:14 during the prophet's ministry after the Babylonian exile. He provided his house as a repository where silver and gold, brought by returned exiles from Babylon, were stored until they could be fashioned into a crown. This crown was then placed on the head of Joshua the high priest as a symbolic representation of the coming messianic "Branch" who would serve as both priest and king and oversee the rebuilding of the temple. Though Josiah appears only briefly in Scripture, his role in this symbolic act underscores the post-exilic community's hope in God's messianic promises and their participation in God's redemptive plan.
Biography
Josiah, also known as Hen, is mentioned in Zec.6.10 and Zec.6.14 in the context of a symbolic act during the prophet Zechariah's ministry. Zechariah was instructed to take silver and gold from the returned exiles, specifically from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who had come from Babylon (Zec.6.10).
Josiah (or Hen) is mentioned as the son of Zephaniah, in whose house the silver and gold were to be stored until they were used to make a crown (Zec.6.10, 14). The crown was then to be placed on the head of Joshua, the high priest, as a symbol of the coming "Branch," a messianic figure who would build the temple and rule as both priest and king (Zec.6.11-13).
The name "Josiah" is used in verse 10, while "Hen" is used in verse 14. This variation may reflect different traditions or translations of the name.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical bookZechariah 2 verses
- Zechariah 6:10
"“Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon—and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah."
- Zechariah 6:14
"The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יֹאשִׁיָּ֫הוּ |
| Named | Hebrew | חֵן |