Zechariah 6:14
And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
תִּֽהְיֶה֙
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶה֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּלְטוֹבִיָּ֣ה
and to Tobijah
H2900
וּלְטוֹבִיָּ֣ה
and to Tobijah
Strong's:
H2900
Word #:
4 of 11
tobijah, the name of three israelites and of one samaritan
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
7 of 11
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
לְזִכָּר֖וֹן
for a memorial
H2146
לְזִכָּר֖וֹן
for a memorial
Strong's:
H2146
Word #:
9 of 11
a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing)
Cross References
Mark 14:9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.Exodus 12:14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.Matthew 26:13Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Historical Context
The memorial crowns remained in the Second Temple, likely displayed prominently where they'd remind worshipers of the Branch prophecy. For five centuries (516 BC to Jesus's time) those crowns testified to Messiah's dual office. When Jesus cleansed the temple (John 2:13-22), taught there, and claimed temple authority, He stood in the building where memorial crowns announced Him. Tragically, the religious leaders didn't recognize the fulfillment their own memorials proclaimed.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God command memorials (like the crowns) to keep promises alive across generations?
- How did the exile-offerings of faithful Jews fund a memorial that testified to Messiah for centuries?
- What 'memorials' help you remember God's promises when faith weakens?
Analysis & Commentary
And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD—After the symbolic crowning, the crowns become a permanent memorial. Vəhā'atārōt tihyeh ləChēlem ūləTōḇīyāh vəlīḏa'yāh ūləChēn ben-Tsəphanyāh ləzikkārōn bəhēyḵal Yahweh (וְהָעֲטָרוֹת תִּהְיֶה לְחֵלֶם וּלְטוֹבִיָּה וְלִידַעְיָה וּלְחֵן בֶּן־צְפַנְיָה לְזִכָּרוֹן בְּהֵיכַל יְהוָה, 'and the crowns shall be for Helem and for Tobijah and for Jedaiah and for Hen son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD'). The names differ slightly from verse 10 (Helem/Heldai, Hen/Josiah), likely variant forms.
The crowns, placed in the temple as zikkārōn (זִכָּרוֹן, 'memorial/remembrance'), serve ongoing testimony to the prophecy. Every time worshipers saw those crowns, they'd remember: a Priest-King is coming, the Branch who will build the true temple. Memorials function as teaching tools, reminding future generations of God's promises (like the twelve stones from Jordan, Joshua 4:6-7). The crowns testified until the Branch came. Jesus entered the Second Temple (after Herodian renovations) as the fulfillment—the crowned Priest-King those memorials announced. The contributors' names preserved in the memorial honor their faithfulness: their exile-offering funded a perpetual witness to Messiah.